SPARTANBURG, S.C.— The Montreat men's basketball team tipped off its 2024-25 regular season Saturday afternoon with a nonconference contest versus the Spartanburg Methodist College Pioneers. Playing in Spartanburg, S.C., the Cavaliers utilized a career day from Jack Keller to win an overtime road thriller, 113-111. With the victory, Montreat begins the year 1-0.
 
A three-point barrage powered the Cavs offensively to the tune of 55 first-half points in their season opener. Montreat scored on its initial three possessions, and Keller buried a pair of triples to put the away side up, 10-7. Jarden Maze and Keller then poured in five free throws, pushing the lead out to 15-9 less than five minutes into the ballgame.
 
Spartanburg Methodist (0-2) responded with a swift 9-0 run as it moved in front, 18-15; however, newcomer Zeke Bullington drained a trio of 3-pointers as part of an 11-2 spurt that gave the visitors a 26-20 edge midway through the frame.
 
While the hosts erased their deficit during the following minutes, they couldn't reclaim the lead prior to the half. The Cavaliers closed strongly, utilizing a series of triples from Keller and Maze to build the largest lead of the contest (52-37) with under two minutes remaining. SMC notched a couple of late buckets, but Montreat still entered the intermission with a 55-44 advantage.
 
Keller led all scorers with 22 first-half points and four 3-point makes. Maze contributed 13 points and four rebounds of his own as the visitors shot a remarkably efficient 17-of-32 (53.1 percent) from the floor and 52.9 percent (9-17 3-pt FG) from deep. The Cavs also went 12-for-16 at the free-throw line during the opening half.
 
The Pioneers didn't go away easily, and after just seven minutes of play during the second half, the hosts reclaimed the lead, 68-66.
 
Bullington and Keller continued to nail shots from beyond the arc, preventing Spartanburg Methodist from pulling away. Midway through the half, Xavier Thornton, a transfer from Newberry College, tallied back-to-back baskets in the paint, seizing a 76-73 edge in the process.
 
Montreat led by as many as six points down the stretch, but SMC made enough plays and hit enough shots, including the game-tying triple with less than 10 seconds left, to force overtime. Even at 98 following 40 minutes of play, one additional period was necessary to separate the two sides.
 
While the Pioneers managed to establish a 109-106 advantage with 2:21 left, the Cavaliers' defense ensured that the visitors came away victorious. Freshman AJ Baskerville recorded the game-saving steal during the closing seconds, and five late free throws coupled with a Chris Moore bucket closed out a down-to-the-wire 113-111 overtime road triumph.
 
"Since the hurricane, there has been so much of the unknown—nearly everything has been a question mark," said head coach Anthony Barringer. "The one thing that I have never questioned throughout this whole time is if I have dudes in this locker room that are willing to go to battle for each other. That's what we did today. All they did the entire way was stick together, challenge each other and speak life into each other."
 
Keller rattled off a career-high 36 points on just 16 shot attempts, 11 of which were makes. Maze contributed 22 points, while Bullington (12 points), Baskerville (11 points) and Moore (11 points) joined their teammates in double figures. Moore led the squad with eight boards, and Thornton dished out a team-best four assists.
 
Both teams shot at least 50.0 percent on the day. Montreat went 38-for-76 (50.0 percent) from the field, 14-of-31 (45.2 percent) from deep and 23-for-34 (67.6 percent) at the charity stripe. Meanwhile, Spartanburg Methodist converted at a 53.8-percent clip from the floor (42-78 FG), 38.5 percent (10-26 3-pt FG) from beyond the arc and 68.0 percent (17-25 FT) at the line. The Pioneers held edges in rebounds (46-38), assists (18-10), points in the paint (56-42) and second-chance points (19-13), but the Cavs made up for those disparities thanks to fewer turnovers (15-9), more points off turnovers (19-12) and additional free-throw and 3-point connections.
 
Montreat continues its season on Tuesday with a road trip to Elizabeth City, N.C. for an out-of-conference clash at Mid-Atlantic Christian University. Tipoff is set for 7 p.m.