
Men's Basketball Falls in Tight Battle Against Midland
(Leavenworth, Kan) - The University of Saint Mary men's basketball team faced off against Midland on the road and nearly rallied to a win, but ultimately fell short, 88-85. A closely contested game throughout, the Spires kept Midland within reach with strong individual performances and timely plays.
Jordan Brown and Damare Smith led the charge for Saint Mary, each scoring 22 points. Brown was particularly effective from long range, hitting four of his 12 three-point attempts, while Smith sank five of his nine attempts from beyond the arc. Bryce Johnson also had a standout performance, scoring 18 points on 8-for-14 shooting and dishing out eight assists, contributing both as a scorer and a facilitator.
The Spires' efficient ball movement led to 23 team assists, compared to Midland's 21. Saint Mary capitalized on Midland's mistakes, scoring 20 points off 19 turnovers, but Midland made up for it with impressive shooting efficiency. The Warriors hit 57.4% of their field goals and 56.3% from three-point range, compared to Saint Mary's 42.9% from the field and 40.6% from deep. Midland also held a significant advantage in rebounding, pulling down 39 boards to Saint Mary's 31.
Despite the narrow score, a few critical statistics underscored the game's outcome. Midland's bench stepped up, adding 24 points compared to just 10 from Saint Mary's reserves. Midland also held a 14-point lead midway through the first half, a gap that, while reduced, proved tough to fully overcome.
Up Next:
The Spires are now 2-3 overall and will start conference play at home against Bethel this Saturday, November 16th at 5 p.m.