Sterling, Kan.—Spire men's basketball team delivered an impressive performance on their first game of the new year this Saturday, January 3rd defeating the Sterling College Warriors 78-59 at the Gleason Center in Sterling, Kansas.

The evening opened with University of Saint Mary setting the pace yet again. Jason Parson ignited the Spires' early momentum with a layup mere seconds into the game. Cam Edwards quickly followed, coming off the bench and contributing a 3-pointer to extend their lead. Edwards continued his offensive assault with back-to-back layups. Parson added to his stats by skillfully tipping in a missed shot, cementing the Spires' first-half advantage of 37-23. The additional scoring efforts by Terrius Walker, alongside huge rebounding efforts by Parson, who finished with a double-double of 12 points and 10 rebounds, proved crucial.

In the second half, the Spires continued their dominance. Terrius Walker and Cam Edwards continued to consistently score, maintaining their the USM lead. Parson's layup in a late fast-break highlighted their offensive dominance on the evening, whilst Joe Clark's dunk, assisted by Kaeden Bonner, exemplified the bench's depth and overall excitement on the night. The Spire defense was equally effective, with key stops that preserved their lead. By the final whistle, the Spires had pushed the margin to 19 points, emphasizing their lock down efforts and team coordination.

Looking ahead, the University of Saint Mary Spires are scheduled to come back home to face Oklahoma Wesleyan University Eagles on Wednesday, January 7^th at 7:30 p.m. at the Ryan Sports Center in Leavenworth, Kansas. The Spires currently hold a season record of 9-5, striving to enhance their conference standings as the season is quickly progressing.