MONTREAT, N.C.— The Montreat College men's basketball team opened its 2025-26 season with a dominant 91-71 victory over the Bob Jones University Bruins Thursday evening at McAlister Gymnasium. With its fifth consecutive triumph of BJU, the Cavaliers start the year at 1-0, while the Bruins tip off the campaign at 0-1.
 
Montreat began the game with strong offensive execution, emphasizing paint scoring and fast breaks. Early contributions from Owen Stewart, Aden Taylor and Dyllan Barnwell had the home side on top 6-4 less than three minutes in. The Cavs' defense capitalized on turnovers, which led to fast-break opportunities that helped establish the early edge.
 
Midway through the half, the hosts faced a challenge as the Bruins rattled off a 15-0 run to seize a 13-point lead (19-6). However, the Cavs responded with a scoring surge of their own, narrowing the gap through effective bench contributions and key defensive stops. Jace Ramirez and Stewart notched baskets in the paint, while RJ Manginello buried a crucial 3-pointer in the closing minutes to help Montreat regain the lead for good.
 
The home side closed the half on a high note, with Ramirez's buzzer-beating bucket capping a 9-0 spurt. The first frame ended with the Cavaliers leading Bob Jones 42-33.
 
Montreat initiated the second period with effective scoring, highlighted by Stewart's consistent performance in the paint. The team established a strong offensive rhythm, utilizing Caleb Moore's assists to push the advantage further. The Cavs' defense also contributed significantly with multiple steals, disrupting the Bruins' efforts to trim the gap.
 
As the half progressed, the home side maintained its momentum with contributions from Manginello and Barnwell, extending the lead to a commanding 28 points at one stage (80-52). Lawrence Cole added depth with key shots, and Montreat's bench provided substantial support, contributing 38 points on the night. Remarkably, all 10 Cavaliers who appeared in the game scored, showcasing the depth and versatility of their roster. The Cavs ultimately saw out a 91-71 win inside McAlister Gymnasium.
 
"The win was nice, obviously, but it was nice to see the things we do in practice every day, our guys are buying into, and they trust what we do," said head coach Anthony Barringer.
 
Overall, Montreat shot an incredibly efficient 33-of-64 from the field (51.6 percent). The Cavaliers knocked down 33.3 percent of their attempts from deep (9-27 3-pt FG) and 16 of their 26 tries at the charity stripe (16-26 FT). Meanwhile, the Bruins were held to just 39.0 percent from the floor (16-41 FG) and 30.8 percent from deep (8-26 3-pt FG). Bob Jones registered 31 of its 71 points at the free-throw line, shooting 83.8 percent (31-37 FT).
 
Head-to-head, the home team notably outpaced the visitors in rebounds (37-25), offensive boards (14-4), assists (19-9), points in the paint (46-14) and points off turnovers (27-15).
 
Stewart led the scoring effort in his initial collegiate contest with 17 points, converting eight of 14 field goal attempts and pulling down five rebounds. Cole contributed 13 points, highlighted by connecting on three of five shots from beyond the arc, and added three steals. Manginello was effective on both ends, scoring 14 points, grabbing five rebounds and recording five steals. The Houston, Texas native also dished out four assists. Moore filled the stat sheet as well with four points, seven rebounds and four assists, all while collecting three steals.
 
"God is good," Barringer added. "I'm grateful for our players, who went through everything they did last year, to be able to be at home and do what we do in McAlister."
 
The next challenge for Montreat will take the squad on the road to face No. 5 Freed-Hardeman University. The matchup is set for Saturday, Nov. 1, with tipoff at 3 p.m. in Henderson, Tenn.