MONTREAT, N.C.— Returning home for the first time since its season opener on Oct. 28, the Montreat men's basketball team hosted the Union College (Ky.) Bulldogs in Appalachian Athletic Conference (AAC) action Tuesday evening. While the Cavaliers got off to a great start, they couldn't overcome a late surge from the visiting Bulldogs as they dropped an 83-78 final and fell to 1-3 (0-2 AAC) in the process.
 
Both teams traded baskets early in the contest, and Union repeatedly answered Montreat buckets with makes of its own. Four ties in the initial 4:25 characterized the opening moments before the hosts started to create separation.
 
Jamiel Wright was the fourth different Cav to connect on a look from beyond the arc as he handed the home team a 14-11 lead nearly six minutes into the first half. That 3-pointer, coupled with a flurry of turnovers, sparked a 19-5 spurt in which Montreat rapidly established a 14-point edge (30-16) with just under eight minutes remaining in the frame. Half of the Cavaliers' 30 points came directly following Bulldog turnovers.
 
Despite the sloppy start, UC found its way back into the contest and even managed to take its first lead. As Montreat's shot selection rose in difficulty, the Bulldogs found swift, high-percentage looks. Union ultimately scored on six of its next seven possessions after falling behind 30-16, and a 2-for-13 sequence (15.8 percent) from the Cavs saw the visitors rattle off a 20-4 run to seize a 2-point lead (36-34).
 
Back-to-back triples from Collin Mills and Gabriel Rivera allowed the home team to move back in front, but an and-one at the buzzer trimmed Montreat's lead to just 40-39 heading into the halftime break.
 
The visitors shot an efficient 50.0 percent (13-26 FG) from the field, as well as 33.3 percent (4-12 3-pt FG) from deep and 75.0 percent (9-12 FT) at the line. Montreat found better luck from beyond the arc (8-20 3-pt FG; 40.0 percent), but it struggled from the field (36.8 percent; 14-38 FG) despite attempting 12 more shots than Union. The Cavaliers committed eight fewer turnovers than UC (13-5) through 20 minutes of play, and they entered the intermission with an 18-4 edge in points off turnovers. Rivera (9 points) and Mills (8 points) led the hosts in scoring, while CamRon Sias had a half-high three steals.
 
Union (3-1, 3-0 AAC) rattled off a 10-3 run to jump out to a 55-51 lead six minutes into the second half, but Jack Keller's third 3-pointer of the frame trimmed the deficit to just a single point on Montreat's next possession. Keller's long-range strike, along with buckets from Wright, Tyler Murray and Sias, contributed to a 13-3 spurt over 2:23 that saw the hosts take a 2-possession lead (64-58) with 11:17 remaining.
 
The Cavs' newfound control of the ballgame didn't last, however, as the Bulldogs later scored on three straight possessions in less than a minute, knotting the score 69 with 6:13 to go. Union continued its run, holding Montreat without a made basket for 3:16. An 11-2 UC run pushed the visitors ahead, 73-71, and they never trailed again.
 
Montreat made things close late after the Bulldogs grabbed their largest lead of the night at 80-73. Rivera registered an and-one, and Michael Erbeck's full-court pass to set up Sias' layup to cut the gap to 80-78 with just over a minute left. Despite the late push, Union managed to close out its victory at the free-throw line as the visiting team remained undefeated in conference play behind an 83-78 win.
 
Union ended the night shooting a better percentage overall (41.0 percent to 38.4 percent), from 3-point range (37.5 percent to 37.1 percent) and from the charity stripe (82.8 percent to 75.0 percent). While the Cavaliers committed eight fewer turnovers (19-11) and owned a 24-8 edge in points off turnovers, the Bulldogs won the game at the free-throw line. UC attempted 17 more free throws (29-12) than its counterpart, and it made 15 of those extra tries (24-9).
 
Mills was one of four Cavs to reach double-figures in scoring as the Asheville, N.C. native poured in 16 points. Rivera (15 points), Wright (12 points) and Keller (11 points) joined Mills in that category, while Wright snagged seven rebounds and Erbeck dished out four assists.
 
The Montreat men's basketball team continues conference play on Saturday with a road trip to Kentucky Christian University. Tipoff is set for 4 p.m. in Grayson, Ky.