Leavenworth, Kan.—Spire men's basketball turned a double-digit halftime deficit into a double-digit win Wednesday night, using a dominant second half to pull away for a 91-81 victory over York University (Neb.) at Ryan Sports Center.
Trailing 49-37 at the break after York poured in 49 first-half points, the Spires clamped down defensively and outscored the Panthers 54-32 over the final 20 minutes.
Jordan Brown's pair of free throws with 14 seconds remaining capped the scoring and effectively sealed the comeback win for USM.
The turnaround started immediately after halftime.
Jason Parson II opened the second half with a layup to cut the margin to single digits, helping spark the Spires' bench and effective rally. As the Spires tightened their defense, York's early rhythm faded, and the Panthers' 15 turnovers became increasingly costly. YU's Kilmurry's 3-pointer with 13:26 left trimmed the deficit, but by the late stages of the half the Spires had flipped the scoreboard, turning a 12-point first-half hole into a comfortable multi-possession lead.
USM's offense found strong balance in the comeback.
Cam Edwards led the Spires with 21 points and five assists showing some toughness in his 22 minutes played, orchestrating the attack and consistently putting pressure on the defense. Brown added 19 points, burying five 3-pointers and collecting three steals as he anchored both the perimeter scoring and the defensive effort. Once in front, the Spires used timely shot-making, including a late 3-pointer from
Kaeden Bonner that pushed the margin to 77-68 with 4:49 remaining, to keep York at arm's length.
Statistically, Saint Mary's efficiency and work on the glass were decisive. The Spires shot 51.5% from the field (34 of 66) and finished with a 30-27 edge on the boards, including 10 offensive rebounds that created extra possessions. The Spires also took care of the ball with just nine turnovers while generating nine steals on the defensive end. The Panthers countered with hot shooting of its own, hitting 58% from the floor and 10 of 19 from 3-point range, but York's turnover total and second-half scoring droughts undercut their early success.
York made one final push in the closing minute when Armstrong knocked down a 3-pointer to cut the deficit to 88-79, but Saint Mary closed it out at the line, with Brown's late free throws finishing off the 10-point victory. The result underscored the Spires' ability to adjust defensively and execute under pressure, turning what looked like a long night into an emphatic home victory.
Coming up, the Spires will hit the road after being home for the last three games and look to battle against the Tabor College Bluejays in Hillsboro, Kansas with tip-off slated for 7:00 p.m.
