Leavenworth, Kan.— In a nail biter of a conference match up on Wednesday, December 3rd the Spire men's Basketball team faced a tough defeat against Evangel (MO) with a final score of 63-62 at the Ryan Sports Center in Leavenworth, Kan.

The evening started with Saint Mary gaining an early lead, capitalizing on a solid three-point shooting performance and key defensive plays. Terrius Walker and Jordan Brown opened the game effectively, contributing crucial buckets, with Walker also providing significant assists. The Spires led the first half, ending it with a score of 37-35 in their favor. Noteworthy was Kaeden Bonner's three-pointer assisted by Walker, emphasizing the team's lead and confidence.

The second half saw the Valor progressively regaining momentum, commencing with Drew McMillin's three-pointer. Despite USM maintaining a lead of up to 7 points during the period, Evangel's strategic defense began chipping away at the deficit. Evangel capitalized on Spire turnovers, eventually taking the lead with a critical jumper by Garrett Davault with just minutes left in the second half.

Jordan Brown was a top scorer for Saint Mary, tallying 12 points and leading assists with 3. Spire teammates Terrius Walker and Damare Smith also added significantly, each scoring 12 and 11 points respectively. Jason Parson II excelled defensively, contributing 5 rebounds.

Looking ahead, the Spires aim to get back in the win column as they face the McPherson College Bulldogs on Saturday, December 6^th with tip-off slated for 7:00 p.m. in McPherson's Holman Fieldhouse. The Spires currently hold a season record of 6-3 overall and 1-3 in KCAC play.