MONTREAT, N.C.— The Montreat men's basketball team hosted the University of Pikeville Bears in a matchup of Appalachian Athletic Conference (AAC) foes inside McAlister Gymnasium Saturday afternoon. Thanks to a quick start and offensive prowess, the Bears pulled away from the Cavaliers and secured a 93-79 victory, dropping Montreat to 4-6 overall and 3-5 in AAC action through 10 competitions.
 
Pikeville (8-3, 7-2 AAC) immediately jumped out to a large lead by connecting on its first four looks from the field to lead 12-2 just 3:41 into the game. A 3-pointer from Jack Keller, in addition to an and-one from Demba Sakho and a Collin Mills triple, powered a 9-2 stretch that pulled the Cavaliers within three (14-11).
 
Despite five early points from Mills, UPIKE expanded the gap out to double digits before Montreat answered to trim its deficit to five (28-23) following seven points from Jamiel Wright. Gabriel Rivera scored the team's final seven points of the initial half; however, the Bears notched 14 points over the same stretch to extend their advantage out to their largest lead to that point (50-34) going into halftime.
 
Though the Cavs shot 46.4 percent from the field (13-28 FG) and 41.7 percent from three (5-12 3-pt FG), the visitors went into the break with a sizeable cushion after making 60.0 percent of their looks (18-30 FG) and 58.3 percent of their 3-pointers (7-12 3-pt FG). Rivera (9), Wright (9) and Mills (8) combined for 26 of the squad's 34 first-half points, while draining 10 of the Cavaliers' 13 makes and four of Montreat's five made 3-pointers.
 
Pikeville grew the gap to 18 at the beginning of the latter period, but the Cavaliers responded. Six different Cavs contributed to nine consecutive makes from the field, including six layups that cut their deficit in half (65-56) midway through the second frame.
 
From that point, Montreat and UPIKE traded baskets until the 6:44 mark, where the Bears utilized four straight 3-point makes to go up by 20 (86-66) with just 3:48 left on the clock. Back-to-back threes from Wright and Keller slashed six points off the gap, but the damage was already done in the 14-point contest.
 
"We competed with a really good basketball team tonight. Tip your cap to them- they made shots down the stretch," said head coach Anthony Barringer. "We made some shots, but we have to be better defensively, and Pikeville took advantage of our defensive mistakes late in the game."
 
In the end, the Bears' efficiency carried the visitors. Shooting 55.6 percent overall (30-54 FG) and 55.0 percent from three (11-20 3-pt FG), UPIKE bested Montreat's impressive 49.2 percent clip (29-59 FG) from the field and 45.5 percent (10-22 3-pt FG) performance from deep. Wright (18), Mills (16) and Rivera (15) ended in double figures in scoring for the home side, while Michael Erbeck led the team with six rebounds.
 
Men's basketball now hosts Milligan University on Tuesday looking to snap its 3-game losing skid. Tipoff in Montreat is scheduled for 7:30 p.m.