HICKORY, N.C.— Playing as the home team for the first time during the 2024-25 season, the Montreat men's basketball squad welcomed the Spartanburg Methodist College Pioneers to Shuford Arena on the campus of Lenoir-Rhyne University for the latter half of a nonconference home-and-home series. In the Tuesday evening affair, the Cavaliers followed a similar script to their first matchup as they came away with another narrow victory, this time via an 84-81 scoreline. With the triumph, Montreat improved to 4-0.
 
A pair of 3-pointers and two baskets in the paint helped the Cavs double up the Pioneers, 10-5, less than four minutes into the matchup. Jack Keller tacked on an and-one a minute later, maintaining the five-point edge after five minutes of play.
 
Spartanburg Methodist (1-4) went on a 10-1 run over 1:42, flipping momentum in its favor with a sudden 18-14 advantage. Just minutes later, SMC utilized a 12-2 spurt to seize the game's first double-digit lead, 30-19.
 
RJ Manginello, who set a new career high in scoring for the second consecutive game, poured in six points over a short stretch to keep the hosts within shouting distance, but the Pioneers still entered the break on top, 45-38.
 
The visitors notched the second half's initial points, but the Cavaliers mostly dominated the following 10 minutes. AJ Baskerville registered 13 of Montreat's next 15 points over 3:13, reclaiming the lead at 53-51. Keller and Manginello each tallied six points as the home side captured its first double-digit advantage (73-63) a little over halfway through the period.
 
Spartanburg Methodist refused to go away, outscoring the Cavs by 11 over the next five minutes to vault back in front (80-79) with just 1:24 to go. Despite their surge down the stretch, the Pioneers couldn't hang on against Montreat's pressure.
 
Dyllan Barnwell bagged a putback bucket with 43 seconds remaining to go up 81-80, and Manginello and Baskerville closed out the matchup at the free-throw line. After needing overtime to win the first clash between the two sides, Montreat needed only regulation on Tuesday night to secure an 84-81 win.
 
"Tale of two halves," said head coach Anthony Barringer. "I thought we came out a little sluggishly. We must be better defensively, specifically winning one-on-one matchups and finishing plays. We challenged our guys' toughness at halftime, and they responded well as they have done throughout the year."
 
Five Cavaliers reached double figures in scoring, led by Manginello's career-high 19 points. Baskerville (18), Keller (13), Elijah Carson (11) and Jarden Maze (10) each recorded at least 10 points. Baskerville achieved his third straight double-double thanks to grabbing 10 rebounds. Barnwell also hauled in 10 boards, while Baskerville dished out five assists. Manginello and Maze added four helpers each.
 
SMC shot 50.0 percent (31-62 FG) overall, 46.7 percent (7-15 3-pt FG) from deep and 80.0 percent (12-15 FT) from the line. Meanwhile, Montreat went 29-for-65 (44.6 percent) from the field, 9-for-25 (36.0 percent) from beyond the arc and 17-of-21 (81.0 percent) at the charity stripe. The hosts won the rebounding battle (36-33) and turned 12 offensive boards into 16 second-chance points.
 
"We are getting battle-tested early this year, and it's great to see that we can accept the challenge, respond well and come out with a W. Still a long way to go, and I'm starting to like where we're headed," Barringer added.
 
Montreat travels to Campbellsville, Ky. on Friday and Saturday for a pair of nonconference matchups. The Cavs take on Lindsey Wilson College Friday afternoon at 3 p.m. before squaring off against Campbellsville University Saturday evening at 6 p.m.