Balanced Scoring Lifts Men's Basketball to 66-50 Victory

CARLINVILLE, IL – The Blackburn College Men's Basketball team featured five players in double figures on their way to a 66-50 victory over Spalding University in St. Louis Intercollegiate Athletic Conference action.

Leading the Beavers was senior Izayah Talmadge with 17 points, including going 9-11 from the free throw line. Senior Zach Kelsey and sophomore Darius Duff chipped in with 12 points each. Senior Brody Barr tallied 11 points, hitting three three-pointers, and sophomore Tyson Johnson added 10 points and a team high nine rebounds. Kelsey notched seven rebounds in the effort.

Blackburn started the game with an early 8-4 lead but the Golden Eagles rebounded and jumped out to eventually take a 24-12 advantage with 4:38 to go in the half. Johnson then sank a three to start an 11-4 run to close out the first half. Talmadge answered a Spalding basket with a dunk and Johnson followed with another three to answer another Spalding score before Kelsey one from behind the arc to send the game to half with a 28-23 Spalding lead.  

Out of halftime, Talmadge made it 28-26 with an and-one. After a basket by the Eagles, Talmadge hit two more free throws and Duff made a layup before Kelsey made another three to give Blackburn the first lead, 33-31, since early in the game.  

The guests tied it, but freshman Odis Grissom made two free throws, then back to back layups from Talmadge and Duff made it 39-33 with 12:50 to go. Out of a timeout, Barr extended the lead with another Blackburn three.

Duff would respond to a Spalding basket with his own score before Barr made another three to make it 47-34 with jus over 10 minutes left to play. Spalding was forced to call timeout, and come out with a score, but it was the closest the Golden Eagles would get as Blackburn would jump out to a 58-36 lead with multiple players scoring as they would cruise to a 66-50 home win.

During halftime of the game, all fall Blackburn student-athletes who earned All-SLIAC recognition were honored.

The Beavers move to 5-6 in the conference, 6-12 overall while Spalding falls to 8-9, 7-4 in league play. Blackburn returns to action Saturday and will visit Westminster College in more SLIAC action.