MONTREAT, N.C.— Noah Dunn recorded the 1,000^th point of his college basketball career on Wednesday night, but it wasn't enough as the Montreat men's basketball team fell at the buzzer to the Columbia International University Rams inside McAlister Gymnasium, 69-67. The Appalachian Athletic Conference defeat dropped the Cavaliers to 18-8 (16-7 AAC) on the season.
 
Montreat picked up where it left off on Monday, hitting at an efficient clip early in the ball game. Through the game's first 5:44, the Cavaliers managed to connect on five of their first nine looks from the floor. Meanwhile, over the same stretch, it was Montreat's defensive effort holding the Rams to just three makes on their first 10 tries. Five different Cavaliers scored in the first six minutes of play, and as a result, the Cavs were doubling up Columbia International, 12-6.
 
While CIU never got hot from the floor in the opening frame, the Cavaliers couldn't sustain their torrid start.  That allowed the Rams to hang around, bringing their deficit to just three points on two separate occasions.
 
Jamiel Wright and Tyler Rodrigue, who both led the Cavaliers with eight points at halftime, helped propel the Montreat offense toward the intermission. After Eli Idlett and Dunn traded buckets with the Rams, it was Rodrigue and Wright who hit baskets late in the frame to help the Cavaliers sustain their lead. Wright hit two of the final three Montreat shots, building the lead out to its largest of the first half at 35-27.
 
Montreat shot an impressive 46.9 percent (15-32 FG) in the first half compared to the Rams' 36.7 percent (11-30 FG) showing. The Cavaliers also connected on two more 3-pointers (5-3) and free throws (2-0) through 20 minutes of game action. Dunn tallied seven points in the opening frame, while Djongo-Alan Tchatchouang hauled in six rebounds.
 
Columbia International (17-11, 13-10 AAC) set the tone right out of the gate in the second half. Three offensive rebounds and a steal leading to a fastbreak layup trimmed the deficit to 35-31 just 51 seconds in. The energy and intensity on the glass and defensive end of the floor proved to be a sign of things to come.
 
Montreat held its edge until the 11:47 mark when a CIU layup put the Rams on top, 47-46, their first lead since 2-0 a minute into the contest. The two sides went back-and-forth for the remainder of the game, all with a career milestone and a buzzer-beater in store.
 
With the Cavaliers trailing by three (57-54) and with the clock showing 3:37, Dunn ducked under a defender near the free throw line and threw up a right-handed floater. The shot swished through the nylon, giving Dunn his 16^th point of the ballgame and the 1,000^th point of his college career.
 
"I really appreciate the opportunity from Coach Jones and the rest of the coaching staff for letting me come in and play my game from the very beginning," Dunn said. "I think that's really helped with my confidence, them believing in me and knowing I can take and make certain shots."
 
In the tightly-contested battle, Montreat couldn't quite overcome the Rams. The visitors drilled a big 3-pointer to go ahead 64-60 with less than a minute remaining. More big shots were on the way for both teams, though, as Tchatchouang buried a left-wing triple to tie the game up at 65 with 10 seconds left on the clock. Following two technical free throws to put the Rams ahead by two, Dunn answered in the paint with a basket to tie the ballgame at 67 with under seven seconds to go.
 
Columbia International, which had been aggressive the entire second half, used that same mindset to drive the basketball in the closing seconds. Jalen Brinson found an opening in the lane and threw up a floater that dropped through the hoop as the clock expired, claiming a 69-67 win for the Rams.
 
CIU used a 40-24 edge in points in the paint, as well as an 11-2 advantage in points off turnovers to upset the Cavaliers Wednesday night. The two teams shot the basketball similarly, with CIU shooting 44.4 percent (28-63 FG) overall and 28.0 percent (7-25 3-PT FG) from deep. Montreat shot the basketball at a 46.7 percent clip, making the same number of shots (28) on just three fewer attempts (60). Also, the Cavs went 8-29 from 3-point range.
 
Dunn led all scorers with 20 points, while Rodrigue (13) and Tchatchouang (11) joined him in double figures. Tchatchouang paced Montreat with seven rebounds, and Idlett and Dunn each registered three assists.
 
"I thank my teammates for getting me the ball in right places," Dunn added. "I wish we would've won the game, but it's a good feeling knowing that I got to 1,000 points."
 
The Montreat men's basketball team closes out its regular season on Saturday with a senior day matchup against Bryan College. Tipoff between the Cavs and Lions is scheduled for 4:00 p.m. inside McAlister Gymnasium.