WINSTON-SALEM, N.C.— On Monday afternoon in the first of three non-conference games for the Montreat men's basketball team, the Cavaliers came up short in a road battle against the Carolina University Bruins. The Cavaliers dropped to 7-4 overall with the defeat.
 
In a back-and-forth first half of play, neither side established a real edge on the other through over 15 minutes of action. Ball security proved to be an issue for both sides early on, and neither team could string together made baskets while keeping the other off the scoreboard.
 
The Cavaliers held the largest lead of the opening 15 minutes at four points (8-4), but it was Carolina who controlled both ends of the court over the final minutes of the half. Tied at 25, the Bruins the used several transition baskets and three triples to jump on top of the Cavaliers by 11 (38-27). Evan Davis added a late basket for the Cavaliers as the clock expired to slide the deficit to single digits entering the halftime break, 38-29.
 
The Cavaliers struggled from the field in the first half of play, shooting 34.4 percent (11-32 FG) overall and 23.5 percent (4-17 3pt FG) from deep. Meanwhile, Carolina worked for better looks from the floor and converted at a higher clip, making 15 of its 32 shot attempts (46.9 percent) while drilling five 3-pointers. Both teams hit three of four free throws in the half. Six different Cavaliers scored in the frame, led by Jaja Davis with seven points and Noah Dunn and Jaylan Shelton with six points.
 
Carolina (10-4) carried its momentum from late in the first half into the second frame by reestablishing a double-digit edge on its opening possession. After surviving a few early Montreat 3-pointers, the Bruins made their second surge of the contest. During a five-minute stretch, CU used a 13-2 run to grab its largest lead of the afternoon at 18 points (55-37).
 
It took the Cavaliers nearly eight minutes, but they eventually worked the contest back within a few possessions thanks to aggressive-minded play and attacking the basket via dribble penetration. An Evan Davis jumper with 4:23 remaining in regulation brought Montreat within striking distance; however, Carolina responded following a timeout. Two transition dunks and a late shot clock layup put the Bruins up by 14 points, 74-60, with only 2:22 left.
 
Montreat never gave up, and Shelton had a string of nine consecutive points over the final 95 seconds to put the pressure on the Bruins. Dunn and JaJa Davis hit a few free throws down the stretch to pull within four (80-76), but Carolina made 10 of its final 11 free throws to hold off the Cavaliers and claim the non-conference win.

"All the credit goes to the Carolina University coaching staff and players," said head coach Garrett Jones. "They outplayed us and were the better team for the majority of the game."
 
The Cavaliers shot over 51 percent in the second half to bring their overall shooting total to 28-65 FG (43.1 percent). Montreat connected on 10 3-pointers Monday afternoon but hit at just a 32.3 percent clip (10-31 3-pt FG). Carolina also struggled at times from behind the arc (7-19 3-pt FG), but the Bruins were efficient near the basket and at the free throw line, scoring 40 points in the paint and converting 18 of their 23 attempts at the charity stripe.
 
JaJa Davis led all scorers with his 24-point performance, while Dunn scored 18 and Shelton poured in 15 to join Davis in double figures. Dunn led the Cavaliers with eight rebounds, and Shelton led Montreat with five of the team's 15 assists.

"It's our staff's job to figure out how to get our young men to compete consistently for 40 minutes, playing unselfishly with relentless effort and toughness," Jones added. "We aren't there yet, but we will learn from this and get better."
 
Montreat men's basketball returns to action on Thursday for a non-conference contest at Tennessee Technological University, an NCAA Division I foe. Tipoff is set for 4:00 p.m. ET in Cookeville, Tenn.