LEAVENWORTH, Kan. – The University of Saint Mary men's basketball team battled in the first half with (RV) Kansas Wesleyan University, but cold shooting in the second half allowed the Coyotes to pull away with a 75-60 win.

The Spires are now 7-5 overall and 4-5 in the KCAC.

Raylon Howard started things off with a quick bucket and KWU would answer on their end. The Coyotes would lead majority of the half, but with1:33 left in the half, Jaylon Rucker hit a three-pointer from the corner to make it a four-point game. Moments later, Lavar McCullough battled inside for the ball and was blocked on a shot, but Rucker got the ball at the top of the key and got a huge four-point to cut the lead to three.

KWU came out hot as they made back-to-back three-pointers to give them a double-digit lead and forced USM to call a timeout in the opening minutes of the half. Luke Mackey stopped the bleeding after he drove to the basket and pulled up for a jumper. Saint Mary struggled shooting in the second half and did not have an answer defensively to stop Kansas Wesleyan which allowed them to pull away and get the road win.

Howard led the team and was the only player in double digits with 11 points. McCullough and Rucker each had nine points.

UP NEXT
The Spires will hit the road this Saturday as they will travel to Bartlesville, Okla. to take on (RV)Oklahoma Wesleyan University in their final conference game of the semester. Tip-off is set for 4 p.m.