Pioneers Lose Home Opener to Montreat, 113-111 in Overtime

SPARTANBURG, S.C. – Six members of the Spartanburg Methodist College scored in double figures as the Pioneers dropped the home opener by a 113-111 margin to Montreat on Saturday afternoon.

The Pioneers (0-2) were paced by a 25-point effort from Bryan Bayonne as all five starters scored double digits. Jeremy Gregory came off the bench to score 21. The two were joined in double figures by Kaleb Thurman (14), Richard Rojas (12), Kenny Burns (12), Kennedy Aiken-Shannon (10). 

Montreat's Jack Keller and Jarden Maze had outstanding games, scoring 36 and 22 points, respectively. Keller was particularly efficient, making 11 of 16 field goal attempts and 7 of 9 three-pointers. The duo was joined in double figures by Zeke Bullington (12) and Chris Moore (11).

SMC found itself down by as much as 15 in the first half but the Pioneers regrouped in the second half and rallied to tie the game with 13:28 left to play in regulation when Burns hit a jumper. Neither team could sustain a lead larger than four over the next 20 minutes. Trailing by three with :10 left in regulation, Burns knocked down a 3-pointer – his only one of the game – to tie the game at 98. Keller had a chance at a last-second 3-pointer that came up short to send the game to overtime.

In the extra period, again no lead was safe until the final horn went off. After the sixth lead change in overtime, Chris Moore successfully made a back-door layup that put the visitors briefly ahead 110-109 with 1:55 left in the game. The Pioneers managed to tie it at 110 when Gregory made of two free throws with 1:24 to go. 

Then, Keller put the visitors back in front by two with two free throws and again, the Pioneers went back to Gregory in the low post. The 6-7 forward from Charlotte made 1 of 2 free throws to make it a one-point game, 112-111 with :58 to go. Then, the Cavaliers made 1 of 2 free throw attempts with :06 left as Kaleb Thurman came down with the board and he got the ball in hands of Richard Rojas, who had a last-second 3-pointer come up short to end the game.

Photo by Marc Mixtega