CLEVELAND, Ga. (Jan. 26, 2021) – The Truett McConnell University men's basketball faced Montreat College for the first time this season on Tuesday evening inside the Benjamin F. Brady Arena. Although the Bears started the game off strong, the Cavaliers ultimately outlasted TMU (72-59) to win their seventh Appalachian Athletic Conference game of the season (9-6, 7-5 AAC). The Bears fell to 5-13, 2-10 AAC on the year.
 
PLAY-BY-PLAY
TMU took control of the game throughout the first 11 minutes to lead by as much as six (16-10), but a Montreat bucket in the paint sparked a 7-0 scoring run to allow Montreat to take the lead. The Cavaliers pushed a lead as much as 10 (21-31) with 4:22 to go before the half, but Ty Briscoe fueled a strong 7-0 closing scoring run for the Bears with a layup to cut the deficit to three at halftime (28-31).
 
The Bears scored first in the second half to get within one (30-31), but that would be the closet the Bears trailed the rest of the way. Both teams were neck and neck with the Bears within three points with 15:14 to go in the game, but eventually Montreat took off to lead by no less than double figures the final 11 minutes of regulation.
 
LEADERS
Junior Enocka Franky led the way with an impressive season high double-double of 18 points and 16 rebounds. Sophomore Marlon Allen also had 18 points, including going 3-for-5 from behind the 3-point line, and five rebounds. Allen also led with two blocks. Briscoe had six points and led with six assists, while fellow freshman EJ Smith added five points and three assists.
 
UP NEXT
The Bears will look to host Union College on Saturday, Jan. 30, at 4:00 p.m., and Bluefield College on Tuesday, Feb. 2, at 7:00 p.m.