BREVARD, N.C. - A strong second-half performance lifted the Montreat College Cavaliers (1-2) past the Brevard College men's basketball team (0-1), 75-69 on Friday evening at the Boshamer Gymnasium in BC's regular season opener.
 
Senior guard Charles Reed was one of three Tornados to put up 11 points in the contest. The Concord, North Carolina native made his only field goal attempt of the contest, and turned in an impressive performance at the free throw line making nine of his 10 attempts.
 
Junior guard Kavan Horton added 11 points and three 3-pointers, while junior transfer Charlie Hester poured in 11 points off the bench to spark Brevard, going a perfect 7-for-7 from the charity stripe. Graduate guard Quincy Carter added nine points, all off 3-pointers, and had a game-high four steals, while Jadon Carnes added eight points and four boards. Darius Stewart and Chancey Watson paced the Tornados on the boards with five rebounds each.
 
Montreat's offense was lit up by Jamie Wright, who scored 24 points including a large output in the second half. Jack Keller added 18 points on 7-of-11 shooting, while Collin Mills scored nine points and grabbed a game-high 11 rebounds.
 
It was a tale of two halves for the Tornados, who shot 47% from the field in the first half and took a four-point, 33-29 lead into the break. Brevard only was able to muster 30% shooting in the second half, and 11 missed free throws in the game ultimately cost the Tornados.
 
Montreat scored 21 points off turnovers and 51 of the Cavaliers' 75 points came off the bench.
 
Brevard opened up an early 11-4 cushion following a Carter 3-pointer. Montreat clawed back, taking a five-point lead of its own, 18-13, midway through the first half. The two sides went back and forth, with the Tornados sparking a late run to take the four-point edge at halftime.
 
Horton hit a quick 3-pointer as Brevard matched its precious game-high lead of seven points, and Carter's second 3-pointer of the contest gave the Tornados a 42-34 advantage. Montreat answered back, using a pivotal 13-0 scoring run to retake the lead, 47-42. Carter hit again from long distance to halt the Cavalier run, and a pair of Hester free throws tied things back up at 47 at the 11:14 mark.
 
With the score 55-52 in favor of the visitors, Montreat started to pull away with an 8-0 run that gave the Cavaliers an 11-point lead with six minutes to play. Brevard cut the deficit down to six points on three separate occasions, and a Horton 3-pointer brought the Tornados within four points with 23 seconds to play. However, Montreat was able to ice the game with three late free throws to snag the six-point victory, 75-69.
 
The Tornados will return to action on Tuesday, November 14 with a road contest vs. Bob Jones at 7 p.m. in Greenville, South Carolina.
 
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