MONTREAT, N.C.— The Montreat men's basketball team utilized a late defensive stretch to notch a close 68-66 triumph over the visiting Kentucky Christian University Knights inside McAlister Gymnasium Saturday afternoon. With the Appalachian Athletic Conference (AAC) win, the Cavaliers picked up their fourth straight victory to improve to an even 9-9 overall and 7-8 in AAC play this year.
 
Kentucky Christian (5-13, 3-11 AAC) led 9-6 early; however, the Cavs responded with seven straight points, including baskets from Chris Moore, Collin Mills and RJ Manginello to go up 13-9 8:15 into the contest. Buckets from Tyler Murray helped the home side extend its advantage to five on two separate occasions midway through the frame, but transition layups from KCU put the Knights ahead 19-18 with 8:50 remaining in the initial period.
 
Though the visitors used a 13-5 stretch to hold a 26-22 edge with 5:46 to go in the half, Montreat responded. Four late points from Mills aided the Cavaliers to a 34-31 lead before the teams entered the break tied at 35 points apiece as the Knights hit nine of 10 shot attempts toward the end of the period.
 
Gabriel Rivera, Mills and Murray each contributed seven points in a half that saw the Cavs shoot 40.0 percent (14-35 FG) overall, but just 23.1 percent (3-13 3-pt FG) from deep. Montreat outrebounded its opposition 24-15, including 11 offensive boards, which translated to a 10-5 lead in second-chance points; however, 11 turnovers helped the guests keep the competition tight thanks to a 15-6 gap in points off turnovers. Dyllan Barnwell led all players at the intermission with seven rebounds.
 
Three points from Barnwell handed the Cavaliers a 40-36 advantage moments into the latter period as the home team tallied five of the opening six points of the second half. Despite the Cavs' lead, KCU battled back with a 6-0 run that allowed the Knights to grab a 5-point edge (52-47) halfway through the second.
 
Buckets from Michael Erbeck and CamRon Sias knotted the game at 52, but Kentucky Christian utilized a 10-3 run to push its lead to seven points, the largest by either team in the entire game, with 5:14 left in the matchup. Erbeck and Rivera combined to score the ensuing 10 points for the Cavaliers, who grabbed a 65-64 advantage on Rivera's layup with 58 seconds on the clock.
 
KCU flipped the score in its favor with free throws, but an and-one from Mills coupled with a defensive stop by Montreat secured the 2-point triumph. The Cavs held the Knights to just 1-of-7 shooting with two turnovers over the final five minutes of action.
 
"I thought we did a really good job down the stretch keying in defensively. In games you shoot under 40 percent overall and under 30 percent from three, you have to be good defensively, and we were. It was a total team effort.
 
Eight second-half points from Rivera propelled his point total to the highest of any Cavalier (15), while Erbeck (10) and Mills (10) joined their teammate in double figures. Ten different Cavs scored and all 11 that played grabbed a rebound. Barnwell and Elochukwu Eze notched nine rebounds each as Montreat finished with a 51-34 advantage on the glass.
 
Neither team shot particularly well as the Cavaliers concluded at 37.7 percent (26-69 FG) from the field and 28.6 percent (6-21 3-pt FG) from beyond the arc compared to KCU's 37.9 percent (22-58 FG) and 25.0 percent (5-20-3-pt FG), respectively.
 
"They don't ask how you win, they ask 'did you win?' and we did. Kudos to KCU. Coach Pat has done a great job with his young group. They play hard, they're bought in and they fight. We're starting to peak at the right time and I'm excited to see where this continues to go," noted Barringer.
 
Men's basketball hosts Tennessee Wesleyan on Wednesday as the Cavaliers wrap up their 3-game homestand. Tipoff in Montreat is slated for 7:30 p.m.