LOUISVILLE, Ky. - The men's basketball team went to Spalding for Saturday's opening game of the new calendar year and came away with a 145-133 win. Marvin Bateman recorded his season-high with 34 points.

The 34-point outing was the second-highest mark of Bateman's Greenville career. Bateman made 12-of-18 field goal attempts and 10-of-15 three-pointers. He fell three points shy of his top effort that saw him provide 37 points when GU scored 200 points in a game against Fontbonne last season.

Sontiago Grady posted 26 points, and Henry Johnson helped the Panthers with 18 points.

Eric Williams came up with 15 points, Riley Simmons had 14 points, and Rakim Murphy ended with 11 points.

Murphy also managed a double-double with 11 assists.

Greenville's pressure resulted in 39 Spalding turnovers and 28 GU steals. Simmons, Johnson, and Quincy Pinkard all had five steals, and Grady added four steals.

The top rebounders for the Panthers were Williams and Bateman with six.

The Panthers never trailed and held a 20 point lead in the first half. Greenville led 67-59 at halftime.

Greenville (4-7, 3-1 SLIAC) pulled into a five-way tie for the top position in the SLIAC standings. The Panthers travel to MacMurray for a game on Wednesday at 7:30 p.m.