MONTREAT, N.C.— The Montreat men's basketball team outlasted the Reinhardt University Eagles 81-78 inside McAlister Gymnasium Saturday afternoon, improving to 10-4 (8-3 AAC) on the season and remaining undefeated at home during the 2021-22 campaign (6-0).
 
The Cavaliers began the competition on fire from the field, knocking down their initial four attempts of the game to fuel an 11-3 run over the opening two minutes. Though Montreat cooled on offense, defensive pressure resulted in a trio of Reinhardt turnovers and a 1-of-9 start from the floor for the Eagles.
 
Four early triples propelled the home team to a double-digit advantage as the Cavaliers pushed out to a 17-7 lead thanks to baskets from six different players. After Jaylan Shelton made a layup resulting in the seventh different scorer, Noah Dunn drained his second three of the first half to put Montreat up 22-11 midway through the frame.
 
Reinhardt (10-8, 7-5 AAC) responded to trim its deficit with defensive stops and turnovers, much like the Cavaliers did early. The Eagles, who turned Montreat over eight times in the opening period and 18 times overall, inched within as few as two points four times late in the half; however, 3-point shooting aided the Cavs to a 40-32 edge at the break. Tyler Rodrigue and Eli Idlett both connected on triples, while Dunn added an and-one to give the Cavaliers separation heading into the intermission.
 
Idlett and Dunn both led the home team with nine points each; Dunn contributed with a first-half high six boards. Montreat held the advantage in all shooting categories, besting the Eagles in the opening period from the field (44.1 percent to 36.1 percent) and at the free throw line (60.0 percent to 42.9 percent), but the most apparent discrepancy was seen from deep, where the Cavs tallied seven makes on 18 shots (38.9 percent) compared to Reinhardt's 15.0 percent clip (3-20 3-pt FG).
 
In the second frame, the Cavaliers stretched their lead to double digits once again, but RU answered with a run to cut the separation to five. Immediately, 13 points, including 10 straight, from Montreat over a span of 2:20 gave the home team a 16-point edge just a few minutes into the latter half. A layup by Rodrigue handed the squad its largest lead at 60-42 with 12:11 to go.
 
Reinhardt would not let the Cavaliers off the hook easily, despite the large lead for the home team. The Eagles pulled within four thanks to several free throws, as well as Montreat missed shots and turnovers, utilizing 15 consecutive points to do so. The visitors came within a single point (68-67) with 4:50 left and eventually capitalized on the Cavs' miscues to lead 76-74 with 2:28 on the clock.
 
Down the stretch, the Cavaliers continued to be deadly from deep, converting on a longball from Mike Flenory on their ensuing possession to regain the lead. After Reinhardt knotted the contest at 78 with just over a minute to go in the second half, Rodrigue stepped up from beyond the arc to seal Montreat's victory. The transfer from Belmont Abbey College drilled a 3-pointer from the corner with 40 seconds remaining that secured the three-point triumph.

"We set the tone early, but Reinhardt really had us on our heels for a stretch there in the second half," said head coach Garrett Jones. "Credit to our guys for continuing to battle and come out on top."
 
Overall, the Cavaliers drained 14 3-pointers, going 14-of-31 (45.2 percent) from behind the arc. Rodrigue, who captained the team with 20 points on the day, finished 6-for-8 from three. Dunn and JaJa Davis each contributed with double-doubles for the Cavs, who shared the ball and scored efficiently against the Eagles. Dunn poured in 15 points and grabbed a game-high 12 rebounds, while Davis notched 10 points and as many boards. Davis' 10 rebounds also put him over the 500 mark for his Cavalier career. Idlett concluded his afternoon with 15 points, five rebounds and a team-best six assists.

Jones added, "I'm proud of our team for competing and finding a way to win. Reinhardt has a great team and is very well coached. We knew it would be a battle."
 
Men's basketball now travels to Point University for a matchup against the Skyhawks on Tuesday. Tipoff in West Point, Ga. is set for 7:30 p.m.