The Saint Mary men's basketball team opened up the 2017-2018 season with a non-conferernce matchup at Morningside on Tuesday night. Despite holding a lead in the second half, the Spires fell 80-76. The game featured 10 ties and six lead changes as the teams traded blows throughout the night.

After falling behind early 4-2, Saint Mary claimed their first lead of the game at the 16:41 mark on a break-away bucket by Lavar McCullough. The Spires would push their lead out to seven points and hold the lead until Morningside used a 9-2 run to tie the game late in the half. Morningside would then take a three point lead into halftime with a three point bucket in the closing seconds of the first half.

The Spires would have the game tied again at 40-40 less than three minutes into the second half. The game would go back and forth, but the Spires would hold a 65-64 lead with five minutes left to play. From there, Morningside took control. A 14-4 run by Morninside put the Spires down by nine points. Saint Mary battled back and got within three points after a three point bucket from Brett Marsh with 50 seconds left, but the Spires would draw no closer as they fell 80-76.

McCullough led Saint Mary with 20 points and five rebounds in his debut for the Spires. McCullough also had four steals. Kenneth Banks and Demetrius Cady each added 13 points. Banks had five rebounds as well. Marsh finished with 10 points. The Spires forced 10 steals and 17 turnovers in the loss. They shot 49% from the field and 45% from three point range.

The men's basketball team will be back in action at Haskell on October 31 at 7pm. Haskell opens the season at Doane tonight before hosting the Spires next week.