CAMPBELLSVILLE, Ky.— The Montreat men's basketball team wrapped up its weekend in Kentucky on Saturday with a nonconference matchup against the Campbellsville University Tigers. After suffering their first defeat of the season yesterday, the Cavaliers bounced back with an 85-81 road victory to climb to 5-1 on the year.
 
Jarden Maze and Jack Keller each drained a triple early in the contest, and RJ Manginello tacked on a pair of baskets in the paint to put the visitors in front, 10-3, merely 2:37 into the game. Campbellsville (4-1) erased the gap in just 3:31, however, and the hosts captured their first lead of the night at 14-12.
 
Lamont McNeill Jr. helped Montreat regain the lead at 29-26 thanks to a bucket from beyond the arc, but the Tigers answered with a barrage of 3-pointers to build their largest lead of the night. CU hit 10 threes during the initial half, and it created a 9-point edge (42-33) with 1:44 remaining prior to halftime.
 
Two Maze free throws and an AJ Baskerville layup gave the Cavs some momentum heading into the break only down 42-37. The duo continued to apply pressure in the second half, combining for a stretch of nine Montreat points that put the visitors ahead, 50-49.
 
The second half featured 10 lead changes, the final of which came from a Baskerville 3-pointer with 9:21 left in regulation. While Campbellsville tied the score 20 seconds later, it never led again.
 
Keller connected on a look from deep and Manginello added a free throw that aided the Cavaliers in matching the contest's largest lead of nine points (76-67) with 2:14 remaining. Manginello hit seven free throws across the final 1:03, and Montreat sealed its bounce back victory with an 85-81 final score.
 
"After yesterday's game, as much as I wanted to be furious and upset about our performance, I took a second and got a pulse for my team to see where we were, and my leaders said we were ready to roll," said head coach Anthony Barringer. "We have incredible leadership in this group, so there was never a question of if we were going to regroup. Whether a win or a loss, we were going to find our rhythm because they were determined to get back on track."
 
Baskerville continued to be a double-double machine, achieving his fourth of the young season thanks to leading the team in both points (21) and rebounds (11). Manginello (18), Keller (16) and Maze (14) reached double-digit point totals. A native of Sandersville, Ga., Maze also notched a double-double with 10 boards, and he led all players with six assists.
 
The Cavs made 42.9 percent (27-63 FG) of their field goal tries, 30.4 percent (7-23 3-pt FG) of their looks from deep and 24 of their 29 free-throw attempts (82.8 percent). Meanwhile, CU shot 34.2 percent (26-76 FG) overall, 34.9 percent (15-43 3-pt FG) from beyond the arc and 77.8 percent (14-18 FT) at the charity stripe. The visitors had a strong advantage in the paint (34-20) and won the rebounding battle (39-35).
 
Montreat returns home on Wednesday for its Appalachian Athletic Conference (AAC) opener versus Columbia International University. Tipoff is slated for 7:30 p.m. at Kimmel Arena in Asheville, N.C.