Saint Mary Holds Off Southwestern, Advances to KCAC Semifinals with 86-78 Victory

LEAVENWORTH, KAN. — The University of Saint Mary men's basketball team will move onto the KCAC Semifinals with a hard-fought 86-78 win over Southwestern College. The Spires led from start to finish but had to fend off a late push from the Moundbuilders to secure the postseason victory.

Saint Mary built a 44-32 halftime lead, capitalizing on strong outside shooting and aggressive rebounding. However, Southwestern clawed their way back in the second half, tying the game at 67-67 with under five minutes to play. The Spires responded with clutch defensive stops and timely free throws to close the game on a strong run, sealing their spot in the next round.

Jordan Brown led all scorers with a stellar 29-point performance, shooting 10-of-17 from the field and an impressive 7-of-9 from beyond the arc. Tre Alexander added 19 points and six rebounds, while Joey Schultz chipped in 17 points, including a key three-pointer late in the game. Kaeden Bonner orchestrated the offense with 15 points, nine rebounds, and seven assists in a well-rounded effort.

The Spires shot 50% from the field and from three-point range (9-of-18), while also converting 81.3% of their free throws (13-of-16). The defensive intensity down the stretch made the difference, as Saint Mary forced key turnovers and held Southwestern scoreless in the final minutes.

Up Next:

With the win, Saint Mary advances to the KCAC Semifinals, where they will take on Friends University on Saturday, March 1, at 2 p.m. in hopes of continuing their postseason run.