Bryan Pulls Away Late to Hand SMC Men’s Basketball 68-61 Loss

Visiting Bryan scored the final seven points while holding the Pioneers scoreless over the final 3:08, pulling away from the Spartanburg Methodist College men's basketball team for a 68-61 win on Friday afternoon in a back-and-forth contest.

Spartanburg Methodist College (4-16, 2-10 AAC) was led by freshman CJ Terrell, who recorded his fifth double-double of the season with 20 points and 10 rebounds. Teammates redshirt freshman Musa Muriithi and senior Calvin Brown each added 12 points for the Pioneers. Terrell has now posted double-doubles in three of the last four games.

Bryan (9-11, 7-6 AAC) was paced by a game-high 22 points from Izaiha Bredwood, who knocked down five 3-pointers in the win. Haydn Moten and Jerry Taylor Jr. also finished in double figures with 12 points apiece.

"Bryan did a really good job of making big shots when they needed to," said SMC head coach Blake Jackson. "They rebounded the ball on the offensive end. When you're not making free throws and giving up second-chance opportunities, you're making it a lot harder on yourself. We have to continue to grind, come to work every single day, and push it to the next level."

With the game tied at 61, a second-chance basket by Bryan's Derek Curtis with 1:29 remaining gave the Tigers the lead for good. Bryan outscored SMC 23-10 in second-chance points for the contest.

SMC missed a chance to tie the game on its ensuing possession before Bryan called a timeout. The Tigers then stretched the lead after the break with a 3-pointer and a pair of free throws with 12 seconds left to seal the victory, keeping the host Pioneers off the scoreboard down the stretch.

Up next, Spartanburg Methodist College will host CIU on Wednesday, Jan. 28, at 7:30 p.m. inside Bridges Arena.