WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. — The Montreat College men's basketball team dropped an 85-67 nonconference final to Carolina University on Saturday afternoon in Winston-Salem, N.C. CU outscored the Cavaliers by nine in each half to achieve the outcome. With the result, the Cavs moved to 1-3, while the Bruins improved to 2-3.
RJ Manginello kicked off the scoring with a 3-point make on the game's opening possession. Carolina settled in and seized its first lead just over two minutes into the frame, and it grew the advantage to 15-11 midway through the half.
Jace Ramirez started an 8-0 Cavalier run on the next possession by knocking down a jumper.
Lawrence Cole added a free throw,
Owen Stewart unleashed a fastbreak dunk and Manginello registered a steal and three-point play to flip the four-point deficit into a four-point edge with 8:19 to go (19-15).
An extended scoring drought enabled the hosts to vault back in front. Montreat went without a point for over six minutes, with Stewart's layup snapping the streak with 2:12 left.
Dyllan Barnwell,
Jacobi Simpson and
Amare Elshoush contributed baskets during the period, and the visitors totaled 16 points in the paint across the initial 20 minutes of play; however, CU scored 17 of the half's final 21 points, and it entered the break with a 32-23 lead.
Like the prior frame, Manginello started the scoring in the second half. Stewart then drained a triple off a pass from Cole, cutting the gap to 34-28 less than 45 seconds into the period. Despite their efforts, the Cavs couldn't draw closer than two possessions. The Bruins countered by grabbing the first double-digit lead of the day at 42-31 with 15:08 left in regulation.
Trailing 48-36, Montreat made a push midway through the half with another 8-0 spurt. Manginello's and-one began the rally, and he cashed in a look from deep after Ramirez added a bucket down low. Carolina answered with a 12-2 stretch, reestablishing its double-figure advantage (60-46). The hosts grew their lead to as large as 21 points on two occasions, and they ultimately saw out an 85-67 triumph on their home court.
"Committing to your process is a tough task when you want the final result so badly," said Head Coach
Anthony Barringer. "Our guys are working hard daily, and we are headed in the right direction. We just haven't gotten the results we want yet. Emphasis on yet. Step by step. We will get back to it on Monday and get ready for Union."
The Cavaliers shot 36.1 percent from the floor (26-72 FG), 16.7 percent from the perimeter (5-30 3-pt FG) and 66.7 percent from the charity stripe (10-15 FT). CU went 47.5 percent from the field (28-59 FG), 45.5 percent from deep (10-22 3-pt FG) and 67.9 percent from the line (19-28 FT). Montreat accumulated more rebounds (43-42), points in the paint (38-30) and points off turnovers (15-7). Carolina tallied twice as many assists (12-6) and committed two fewer turnovers (12-10).
Stewart finished with a double-double, notching 22 points and 11 rebounds to go along with two steals. Manginello scored 22 points as well, adding four boards and three steals. Barnwell posted seven points and seven rebounds. Ramirez went 3-for-3 from the field for six points and five boards.
Up next, the Montreat College men's basketball team hosts Union Commonwealth University for the squad's Appalachian Athletic Conference (AAC) opener on Wednesday, Nov. 11. Tipoff is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. at McAlister Gymnasium in Montreat, N.C.
