Lions Defeat Montreat Behind First Half Run

MARS HILL, N.C.- The Mars Hill men's basketball team opened up a big first half lead and withstood a late run to earn a 93-86 victory over Montreat in Stanford Arena Thursday night.

A 20-point run in the first half helped the Lions open up a comfortable lead, and MHC withstood a late Cavalier run that twice cut the deficit to five in the closing minutes. Four Lions reached double figures, paced by Kevin Haynes with 23 points on 6-of-11 shooting. Montreat was paced by LaBris Adams with 35 points and eight rebounds. Mars Hill improved to 2-2 on the season, while Montreat fell to 2-5.

Daron Guyton added 15 points for MHC, while Kacey Holt scored 14 points and hit 3-of-4 from three-point range. Will White filled the stat sheet with 12 points, six rebounds, three assists and a block. The Lions shot 49.2 percent (32-of-65).

Ian McVay chipped in with 13 points for Montreat. Justin Ashford scored 10 points off the bench for the Cavaliers. Montreat shot 45.5 percent from the field (30-of-66).

After Montreat jumped out to a 15-10 lead with 11:51 to play in the first half, the Lions ripped off a 20-0 run over the next 5:23 to seize control. A three by Kiko Lopez and back-to-back treys by Holt put the Lions ahead 19-15. A pair of transition lay-ins by Haynes off Cavalier turnovers and a Guyton jumper from the short corner pushed the lead to ten. A pair of free throws by Guyton and a three by Holt capped the run, which ended with MHC holding a 30-15 lead with 6:58 to play in the first half. The Lions hit four treys in the run and connected on 6-of-15 from distance in the first half.

The Lions pushed the lead to as much as 23 when a Jalen Witherspoon lay-up made the score 44-21 with 3:43 to play in the first half. Mars Hill held Montreat to 34.5 percent shooting from the floor before the half, including a 5:23 stretch where the Cavaliers were held without a field goal.

Montreat cut the Lion lead to 13 on a lay-up by Justin Ashford, but a jumper by Haynes and a three by James Fields pushed the score back to 68-50 with 12:13 to play in the game.

A late run by the Cavaliers kept the outcome in doubt in the closing minutes. A 14-3 run by the Cavaliers, sparked by pressure defense cut the score to 83-78 with 2:19 to play. A bucket by Guyton stopped the run, and a long outlet to White pushed the Lion lead back to 87-78. Montreat would get no closer than six the rest of the way.

Mars Hill will travel to Greenwood, S.C. for a matchup with Lander on Monday, Dec. 3. Tip-off is scheduled for 7:30 p.m.