Spalding Claims First SLIAC Tournament Championship with Thrilling OT Victory

LOUISVILLE, Ky. - Spalding University claimed their first St. Louis Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SLIAC) Men's Basketball Tournament Championship with a thrilling 64-62 overtime victory against Eureka College.

After a slow, sloppy start to the game in which both teams traded missed shots and turnovers, Spalding finally got on the board in the 16-minute mark when Thomas Blakemore hit a 15-foot jump shot. The Golden Eagles and Red Devils both started to hit their shots midway through the first half, and Eureka took an 11-10 lead. The Red Devils then went on a 7-0 run with eight minutes remaining in the half to increase their lead.

Spalding would fight their way back and trail by only one point (24-23) at the half, despite getting outrebounded 19-16 and shooting 1-of-7 (.143) from the free throw line compared to Eureka's 5-of-7 (.714) from the line. Both teams also shot below 40 percent for the half, and Eureka's Mark Lessen led the first half effort with 11 points.

The Golden Eagles started strong in the second half, scoring on their first possession. They would take a 33-29 lead with 15:45 left in the game on a layup by Spalding's Dominique Sangester. Spalding maintained their lead until the 7:45 mark, when Eureka tied the game 47-47 on a three-point shot by Dustin Fritsch.

The two teams would trade baskets down the stretch and with a 55-53 lead and 44 seconds remaining, Spalding's Jametrius Brasher drew a charge on Eureka's Jordan Kindred to erase a made layup and hold onto the lead. After a timeout and missed layup by Spalding, the Red Devils tied the game 55-55 on a layup by Kindred with just six seconds remaining. The Golden Eagles had a chance to win the game at the buzzer, but Blakemore's attempt rimmed in and out forcing overtime.

Overtime was much of the same story, as Spalding took a 61-57 lead with three minutes left to play. A three-point play by Eureka's Niko Rivera made the score 61-60, and Kindred then hit two free throws to put Eureka ahead 62-61 with 1:54 on the clock.

Spalding's Johnell Harding hit a three-point shot with less than a minute to go to give the Golden Eagles the lead, 64-62. Spalding held off Eureka on their final possession with two seconds left to claim the victory.

Brasher led Spalding with a team-high 20 points on 10-of-18 (.556) shooting from the field. He also added six rebounds, six blocks, two steals, one assist and was named the Tournament MVP. Sangester, who was also named to the All-Tournamnet Team added 11 points, including 5-of-5 (1.000) from the charity stripe and a team-high seven rebounds. Blakemore finished with eight points, four rebounds and four assists.

Eureka's Lessen recorded a double-double with 20 points and 10 rebounds. He finished 7-of-12 (.583) from the field and 6-of-7 (.857) from the free throw line, while also being named All-Tournament. D.T. Thornton added 12 points, while Rivera had 10 points, seven rebounds, two assists, two steals and was named to the All-Tournament Team.

Joining Brasher, Sangester, Lessen and Rivera on the All-Tournament Team were Westminster College's Verdis Lee and Webster University's Roman Robinson.

Spalding earns an automatic qualifying bid to the 2013 NCAA Division III Men's Basketball Tournament with the victory. The Golden Eagles will learn on Monday, February 25, who will be their first round opponent.

Courtesy Spalding University sports information