SMC Begins 2025 with Wire to Wire 106-75 Win Over Bluefield

SPARTANBURG, S.C. – Four players scored in double figures and three more nearly were in double digits as the Spartanburg Methodist College men's basketball led from start to finish in a 106-75 rout of Bluefield on Friday ngiht. 

The Pioneers (4-9) were paced by a 27-point effort by Richard Rojas, who made 12 of 15 shots from the field. Tavarez Lacey scored a season-high 20 points and Bryan Bayonne had 10 rebounds for his second double double of the season to go along with five assists. 

The fourth Pioneer in double figures was Kaleb Thurman, who saw his first action since Nov. 23, added 10 off the bench. Fellow reserves, Isaac Gray had nine, Hunter DeCuir and Zenai Davis each had eight in the win. 

The Rams (3-7) had five players in double figures as they struggled to shoot 32.4% from the field and just 17.4% (4-for-23) from the 3-point line in the loss. Bluefield shot 39 free throws in the loss. Donavon Martin led Bluefield with 16 points, Quantavis McKinney added 14, Jordan Lineberger scored 13, Elijah White and Tyler Suber each had 10.

SMC started the game on a 15-5 run that saw Rojas score eight of his 27 in the spurt to lead the Pioneers. Bluefield came back and made it a four-point game. A 13-3 spurt later in the half pushed the lead to double digits for nearly the remainder of the contest. 

The Rams managed to cut the deficit to seven, 48-41, just before halftime on a Tyler Suber jumper. Thurman hit a 3-pointer just before the halftime buzzer that put the lead at double digits as SMC led 51-41 at the break. A 13-2 run to start the second half by the host Pioneers spoiled the comeback hopes for the visitors. 

SMC will now turn its attention to Continental Athletic Conference play as they will begin conference play on January 9.