SMC Men's Basketball Gets First NAIA Win in 81-79 Victory Over Warner

SPARTANBURG, S.C. – A pull-up jumper by Bryan Bayonne with 3.2 seconds left propelled host Spartanburg Methodist College men's basketball to an 81-79 win over Warner (FL) for the first win in the NAIA era as well as for Pioneers head coach Blake Jackson.

Spartanburg Methodist College (1-3), who has had all four games of the young season decided by two points or less, came out the victors on Saturday afternoon as Bayonne broke the eighth tie of the game at 79.

Warner (1-2) managed to tie the game with :18 to go when Jason Ogbolu drove in for a layup after a steal by the Royals with the game tied at 79.

Jackson and the Pioneers decided not to call a timeout but had the ball in the hands of Bayonne, who surveyed the setup of the Royals defense. The senior from Baton Rouge took control and pulled up for the game-winning shot as he finished with a game-high 25 points. 

In the win for SMC, Jeremy Gregory recorded his first double double of the young season with 20 points, 13 rebounds. Kennedy Aiken-Shannon and Kenny Burns added 16 and 10 points, respectively. 

The Royals were led by a double double from Blaize Darling, who had 16 points and 10 rebounds. Also with 16 points was Logan West, Jack Voth had 13 before fouling out with 4:34 left to go and Jaiden Miller had 12.

Next, the Pioneers are on the road for the rest of November and their next five games. First, SMC will face Montreat in a rematch from last Saturday on Tuesday at 7 p.m. The contest has been moved to Hickory, N.C. and Lenoir Rhyne University.