LEAVENWORTH, Kan. – The University of Saint Mary men's basketball team's hot shooting pushed them past Sterling College 99-87. The Spires shot 55.1% from the field and had five players score in double-digits.
The Spires are now 11-8 overall and 7-8 KCAC.
Jaylon Rucker put the Spires on the board first with an easy bucket in the paint. Sterling answered as they came right down and drilled a three-pointer to go up 3-2 in the opening minutes of the game. Both teams would go back and forth before Saint Mary began to expand their lead. At the 10:58 mark, Cameron Southern missed a contested shot that was rebounded and put back up for a bucket by Brad Hailey to give the Spires the double-digit lead. Later on in the half, Rucker used a step-back to create enough space between him and his defender to drain the three to put them up 38-24. Jesse Moss found Raylon Howard behind the three-point line where he knocked down the shot at the buzzer. The Warriors did not fade away, but the Spires held a 55-42 lead at the half.
Saint Mary continued to shoot well in the second half and held their double-digit lead until the midway mark. The Warriors went on an 11-0 run to put them within three points with 9:40 left to play. A few possessions later, with time running down on the shot clock, Moss faked right and drove left to score and was fouled for the chance at the three point play. A three-pointer by Sterling put them back with five. Tevin Killeen would then grab a defensive rebound and go coast-to-coast for the layup to make the score 82-75 with 6:23 left to play. The Spires continued to make shots down the stretch and picked up the win.
The Spires dominated on the boards as they outrebounded the Warriors 46-28. Howard led the team with 24 points. Rucker scored 17, Killeen had 14, Lavar McCullough had 10, and Hailey had a double-double with 10 points and 12 rebounds.
UP NEXT
Saint Mary will hit the road Jan. 25 to take on (7)Ottawa University. The Spires defeated the Braves earlier in the season inside Ryan Sports Center 74-69. The game is set to begin at 5 p.m.
