MONTREAT, N.C. (Jan. 4, 2020) – The Truett McConnell University men's basketball team faced Montreat College for their fourth straight road game on Saturday afternoon. The first half ultimately doomed the Bears as TMU lost in an Appalachian Athletic Conference battle to the Cavaliers (90-71), who have now won six straight games. The Bears fell to 6-10, 2-3 AAC on the season, while Montreat improved to 11-3, 7-3 AAC to maintain their third-place standing in the AAC.

PLAY-BY-PLAY

The Bears put themselves in a big hole throughout the first 20 minutes of regulation as Montreat outscored by 22 (23-45). However, TMU came back out in the second half to outscore by three (48-45). Most notable, the Bears went on a couple of 8-0 scoring runs to pick up some momentum. With 2:18 to go in the game, Marlon Allen drained 3-pointer to put TMU within 18 (63-81) but senior Darius Thrower followed up with a 3-pointer himself to give the Bears their lowest deficit (66-81). TMU, nonetheless, was unable to fully recover as Montreat clinched their sixth straight win over the visiting Bears.

LEADERS

Enocka Franky led the Bears with 15 points and seven rebounds. Brent Kelly followed with 12 points, six assists and five rebounds; including going 2-for-2 from behind the 3-point line. Xavier Latore and Allen added 10 points apiece. Allen also had six rebounds.

UP NEXT

The Bears will return home to the Benjamin F. Brady Arena on Tuesday, Jan. 7, at 7:30 p.m., to face another AAC foe, Reinhardt University.