MONTREAT, N.C.— The Montreat men's basketball team cruised to a non-conference win over the Regent University Royals Friday night, 107-64, winning its final home game in the calendar year behind its highest-scoring output of the season. With the 43-point triumph inside McAlister Gymnasium, the Cavs claimed their fifth consecutive victory and improved to 9-4 on the year.
 
Montreat established a sizable lead in the initial half of action thanks to a pair of large runs powered by turnovers and 3-point shooting.
 
Regent (1-4) scored the opening basket of the night, but a lively defensive effort coupled with a 6-for-9 (66.7 percent) start from the floor sparked a 15-2 Cavalier run to put the home side up double-digits less than four minutes into the action.
 
After the Royals answered with a 6-0 spurt to trim their deficit down to 15-10, Montreat blew the game wide open. Over 7:33, the Cavs outscored Regent to the tune of a 27-3 run behind seven 3-point baskets and four buckets off turnovers. Montreat, which led 42-13 with 6:42 left in the frame after the massive run, ultimately went 11-for-21 (52.4 percent) from behind in arc in the first half while scoring 20 points off turnovers. Darius Bryant, who led all first-half scorers with 15 points, made five of those 11 3-point baskets on just eight attempts.
 
The Cavaliers grew their lead to as large as 30 points (54-24) in the first half before settling with a 58-31 halftime lead. Montreat's 58 points in the initial frame were its most in a single half since Dec. 8, 2021 when it scored 59 points in the first half of a win over Union College (Ky.).
 
Not only did the Cavs score their most points in a half this season, but they also recorded their highest shooting percentage in a frame. Montreat made 22 of its 35 shot attempts through 20 minutes (62.9 percent), including 11 of its looks from behind the arc (52.4 percent). On the other side, Regent shot 38.5 percent overall (10-26 FG) and went 10-for-13 at the free-throw line (76.9 percent). The Cavaliers held significant edges at the intermission in fastbreak points (25-2), points in the paint (22-12), points off turnovers (20-11) and second-chance points (7-0).
 
Ten different Cavs scored in the opening half, led by Bryant's 15 points. Jarden Maze paced all Cavaliers with four rebounds, and CamRon Sias dished out four assists.
 
Like the first half, Montreat started the second half shooting lights out from deep. Bryant and Gabriel Rivera combined for three triples during the initial 2:12 to grab their largest lead up to that point at 68-36.
 
Regent made a few runs in the latter frame but could never get closer than 24 points (76-52). Down the stretch, numerous Cavaliers got involved in the explosive offensive display as a total of seven different Cavs scored in double figures. Montreat's lead ballooned to as large as 43 points as the hosts took the ballgame, 107-64, marking its most points in a game since scoring 107 against Union last season.
 
Several Montreat men's basketball athletes registered career-bests during the victory. Bryant scored 18 points on the night, his largest output as a Cavalier. Meanwhile, Sias notched career-highs in points (11), rebounds (7) and assists (4), and Emmanuel Hughes scored the first three points of his Montreat career.
 
"Tonight was a total team effort," said head coach Anthony Barringer. "In games like these, it's easy to be satisfied with the fact that you won big, but I thought we did a great job of executing our stuff offensively and defensively. Our guys stayed locked in to what we set out to accomplish… a great way to finish the semester."
 
Overall, Montreat shot 52.9 percent (37-70 FG) and 45.7 percent from 3-point range (16-35 3pt FG). The Cavaliers also made 16 of their 26 attempts (61.5 percent) at the charity stripe. Regent went 22-for-57 (38.6 percent) from the field Friday night and 18-of-23 at the line (78.3 percent). The Royals connected on just two of its 11 looks from deep (18.2 percent). Montreat ended the evening with noticeable advantages in turnovers forced (28-20), points off turnovers (31-17), rebounds (44-32) and bench points (54-17).
 
The Montreat men's basketball team concludes its fall slate with an exhibition contest at Wofford College, an NCAA Division I institution, tomorrow afternoon. Tipoff is scheduled for 2:00 p.m. in Spartanburg, S.C.