Leavenworth, Kansas – The University of Saint Mary men's basketball team escaped with the win after a close one with Avila University Saturday afternoon inside Ryan Sports Center. Donovan Sinegal scored a career high 17 points in the Spires 75-71 win over the Eagles.

The Spires are now 11-15 overall and 11-10 KCAC.

GAME FLOW
Saint Mary controlled the tempo early on and led throughout the entire first half despite a run by Avila to make it a one possession game. In the second half the score would go back and forth the whole way. Avila led 64-62 before a pair of free-throws made by Raylon Howard sparked a 6-0 run to go up 68-64 with less than three minutes to play. After a time out, Dan Hailey found Howard for a basket as he knocked down a big time three as the shot clock expired to extend the lead to five with just over a minute to play. The Eagles would not back down, but after Rucker went 2-for-2 from the free-throw line to make it a two possession with eight seconds left in the game, the Spires held on to escape with the win.

Howard led the Spires in scoring with 22 points, and Sinegal had another big game as he scored a career high 17 points and had seven rebounds. As a team, Saint Mary shot 54.7 percent from the field. The Spires scored 42 points in the paint and had 13 assists as a team.

WHATS AHEAD FOR THE SPIRES
Saint Mary plays at home again Monday in a make-up game from Feb 6 against McPherson College. The game is set to tip-off at 7 pm.