LEAVENWORTH, Kan. – The University of Saint Mary men's basketball team played a close hard fought game with York College, with both teams trading leads down to the final minutes. A last second shot by York however, was the difference as the Spires fell 77-75 inside the Ryan Sports Center Thursday night.

Saint Mary is now 9-13 overall and 9-8 in the KCAC.

Both teams stayed within striking distance of each other early on before Saint Mary broke away for a 28-21 lead after Teyvon Lundy, Tevin Killeen and Edvonte Copeland combined for eight straight points. The Spires continued to climb boosting their lead to 13 at the end of the half after two free throws from Brad Hailey and a long range shot from Copeland. Saint Mary led 39-26 at halftime.

The Spires continued to roll early on in the second half taking a 46-30 advantage at the 16:02 mark. A 65-53 lead for the Spires with 7:33 left was quickly erased in four minutes as the Panthers scored 12 straight points to tie the game at 65. In the final minute, the Panthers led 74-70 with 41 seconds remaining before Copeland nailed a three-pointer off the backboard from the corner to cut the deficit to one. After a free throw by York, Lundy would get his chance to tie the game at 75 with two charity stripe shots of his own, which he converted. Both teams were tied at 75 before York's Patrick Burnett hit the game-winning shot to clinch the victory for the Panthers.

Three Spires scored in double-figures as Lundy led the team with 16 points, while Raylon Howard and Copeland each had 15. Burnett led the Panthers with 19 points.

UP NEXT
The Spires host Kansas Wesleyan Saturday night inside the Ryan Sports Center at 7 p.m., as part of the team's annual 'Coaches vs. Cancer' event.