Ottawa, Kan. — A dominant first-half defensive effort and a balanced scoring attack carried the University of Saint Mary Spires to an 83-65 road victory over Ottawa University this evening at Wilson Field House.

The Spires seized control in the opening 20 minutes, holding Ottawa to 22 first-half points while building a 36-22 lead at the break. This early cushion proved decisive, as Saint Mary matched the Braves shot for shot in the second half and closed out the 18-point win behind strong perimeter shooting and work on the glass.

Offensively, USM relied on a trio of standouts. Kaeden Bonner led all Spires scorers with 19 points, going 6 of 13 from the field and a perfect 6 of 6 at the free-throw line while adding a game-high 4 steals. Jordan Brown was efficient with 17 points in 25 minutes, hitting 5 of 10 shots and knocking down two 3-pointers to go with 8 rebounds. Damare Smith provided another perimeter threat, finishing with 16 points on 6-for-10 shooting, including 4 of 6 from beyond the arc, and chipping in 5 rebounds and 4 assists.

The USM offense clicked throughout, as the Spires shot 49.1% from the floor (28 of 57) and 41.2% from 3-point range (7 of 17). They also capitalized at the stripe, converting 20 of 24 free throws (83.3%). That efficiency, combined with a 40-31 advantage on the boards and 12 steals defensively, helped offset 18 turnovers and kept Ottawa from mounting a serious comeback after halftime.

Defensively, the Spires set the tone by disrupting Ottawa's rhythm early and limiting clean looks from outside. Saint Mary held the Braves to 40.0% shooting overall and just 4 of 14 from 3-point range (28.6%). The USM squad also turned Ottawa's 20 turnovers into transition opportunities, with Bonner, Brown and Smith all contributing on the perimeter to pressure passing lanes and contest jumpers.

With the road victory, the Spires showcased a balanced attack built on aggressive early defense, efficient shooting and rebounding control. Saint Mary's combination of back court pressure and multi-level scoring puts the team in a strong position as it moves deeper into the conference slate, looking to build on the momentum generated in Ottawa. The Spires now move to 12-7 overall and 6-7 in KCAC play. Up next, USM has their sights set on Lindsborg, Kansas as they hit the road again to take on the Swedes this Saturday, January 24^th for a 7:00 p.m. tip-off.