BELLEVUE, Neb. – A late rally by the University of Saint Mary men's basketball team Monday night, came up short to (RV) Bellevue University as the Spires fell victim to the Bruins, 80-73 to open the 2020-21 season.
Saint Mary is 0-1 overall.
Bellevue quickly jumped out to a 9-2 lead in the first four minutes, but the Spires would climb back as Diego Lucas and Christian Carmichael combined for the team's first 13 points. Trailing 17-15, Luke Mackey drained a three-pointer to give the team a one-point lead before Bellevue matched the basket to give the Bruins a 20-18 lead with 10:10 to go in the first half.
The Spires were on the Bruins' heels throughout the rest of the half and only trailed by four – 42-38 at the break. Lucas would hit two straight shots, followed by a basket from Cameron Southern to put the Spires within one point early in the second half, but the Bruins continued to hold onto the lead. Bellevue would eventually go up double-digits at 58-48 with 11:48 to go, but a last resort run by Saint Mary made things close down the stretch. Brad Hailey and Lucas gave the team an 8-0 run to put the Spires within three points, but the Bruins continued to counterattack by making a run of their own.
Saint Mary would get within striking distance again with 1:17 remaining after two free throws from Hailey, but a final basket and two free throws gave the Bruins the eventual victory.
Lucas led the Spires with 38 points in his team debut, while Carmichael was second with 14 points and Hailey had 11. Saint Mary shot 55.4 percent from the field, while Bellevue shot 60.8 percent from the floor.
UP NEXT
The Spires open KCAC play on the road Nov. 4 when they take on 14th-ranked Ottawa University at 7 p.m.
