BLUEFIELD, Va.— The Montreat men's basketball team hiked north to face off against the Bluefield University Rams Wednesday evening. The Cavaliers (6-3, 1-2 AAC) suffered their second Appalachian Athletic Conference (AAC) loss of the season to the Rams (1-4, 1-2 AAC) by a score of 83-76.
 
The first half of play was very tight. The biggest lead by either team during the period was only five points. Jack Keller was red hot to start the game. He hit all three of his 3-point baskets in the half and went into the break with 17 points.
 
The second frame was controlled by Jarden Maze. It was his turn to rack up 17 points in a half, while Keller was held to just two additional points during the second period of play. Maze shot 70.0 percent (7-10 FG) from the field in the half, but it was not enough to come home with the win. Down the stretch, the Cavaliers had multiple spans without scoring and a couple of turnovers.
 
Maze was able to knock down a triple to cut the Rams' lead to four points (80-76) with under 40 seconds to play, but the Cavs could not capitalize in the final minute after getting two good looks from behind the arc.

"Some pills are tougher to swallow than others," said head coach Anthony Barringer. "I felt like we had momentum going into the half, and I made a call that allowed them to get back into their groove. I have to be better. My guys fought. I thought in the second half, they took the fight to us on the boards. When you make teams miss, it is so important to finish plays, and in the second half, we didn't do that."
 
Maze and Keller were the two in front for the Cavs, scoring 23 and 19 points, respectively. No other Montreat player was above eight points. AJ Baskerville tallied 14 boards and three steals. RJ Manginello dished out six assists. Both Cavs led those categories with their marks.
 
As a squad, the Cavaliers shot 37.8 percent (28-74 FG) from the field and 25.8 percent (8-31 3-pt FG) from beyond the arc. Montreat outshot the Rams at the stripe (75.0 percent to 56.7 percent) during the contest. In the loss, the Cavs managed more total rebounds and second chance points than their opponent. Each team totaled three blocks and five steals.

"We are due for a run, and we will prepare to start that run on Saturday," Barringer added.
 
Next on the schedule for the Cavs will be a road competition at Tennessee Wesleyan University. Tipoff on Saturday is scheduled for 4 p.m.