CLEVELAND, Ga. – Truett McConnell University men's basketball (4-2 overall, 1-0 AAC) opened 2026-27 Appalachian Athletic Conference play with a thrilling 105-100 victory over the Bryan College Lions (2-4 overall, 0-1 AAC) at Benjamin F. Brady Arena on Thursday.
The Bears and Lions exchanged heavy punches early as a total of nine three pointers were converted in the first six minutes of the contest.
Emanuel Befekadu led the early charge for the Bears as he recorded 15 of his 17 points before the first timeout of the game, including four three pointers out of five attempts.
Following the first break in action at 13:50, Truett McConnell maintained the intensity and expanded to their first double-digit lead of the contest with 11:46 left to play in the first half. Two made baskets from Ty Gibbs and Dalen Gales each brought the contest back within four for the Lions before the Bears broke away again with a 10-4 run supplied solely by
Jadon Yeh.
Jordan Presley was the next Bear to make his mark in the match, converting on back-to-back three-point attempts to contribute towards TMU's 60-46 advantage at the break.
After 16 first half points, Yeh refused to slow down for Truett McConnell, supplying another 20 points in the second frame en route towards a new career high early in his fourth season. He and
Ryan Neal connected on back-to-back shots from behind the arc to extend Truett McConnell's lead to a game-high 21 points with 12:51 left in regulation.
Bryan College refused to go down without a fight despite facing an 18-point deficit with just 6:04 left to play. The Lions orchestrated a 13-2 run to bring the contest to 93-86 after a streak that included seven points from Gales. However, with just 2:22 left on the scoreboard at this point, the game shifted into an exchange of free throws, where Truett McConnell took advantage of 12 out of 14 free point opportunities to secure a five-point win 105-100.
Yeh led Truett McConnell on both sides of the hardwood with 36 points, five rebounds, and four assists, followed by Befekadu's 17 points and
Preston Tuggle's 13 points and five rebounds.
Preston Kent was also influential with 12 points, five rebounds and four assists. The Bears turned over possession just 12 times, claimed 18 points off Lions turnovers, and shot 50% from the field and 54% from distance.
The Bears face a quick turnaround as they head to Knoxville, Tenn. for their first AAC road contest of the 2026-27 season against the Johnson University Royals on Saturday, Nov. 14.
