SMC Loses in Rematch to Montreat

HICKORY, N.C. – The Spartanburg Methodist College men's basketball team faced Montreat for the second time in 10 days on Tuesday evening. In the rematch, the Cavaliers came out on top by an 84-81 margin over the Pioneers. 

Spartanburg Methodist College (1-4) was paced by a 26-point effort from Bryan Bayonne to go along with 18 from Kenny Burns and 17 from Jeremy Gregory. Bayonne and Burns have been in double figures in all five games for the Pioneers. 

Montreat (4-0) had five players in double figures with R.J. Manginello scoring a team-best 19. A.J. Baskerville added 18, Jack Keller had 13, Elijah Carson and Jarden Maze provided 11 and 10 points, respectively. 

A pair of Cavalier free throws put Montreat ahead 73-63 with 7:14 left to play. But, if you've been following the story of the SMC men's basketball season, you know the game was far from over. Then, the Pioneers scored 14 of the next 20 points, including a stretch of seven straight put the visitors ahead 80-79 with 1:24 to go on a Bayonne jumper. Montreat scored the next four points to come away with the win.

Next, the Pioneers are on the road for their next four games. The next contest for SMC is a matchup against Life University on Sunday, November 10 at 2:30 p.m.