Highest First-Half Point Total in Eight Years; Big Test Saturday at LaGrange
MONTGOMERY, Ala. – Maryville head coach Raul Placeres was hoping for a hot start Friday night against Huntingdon. He got one and then some.
The Scots exploded for the program's highest-scoring first half in eight years and cruised to a 109-68 blowout victory against the Hawks. Maryville put 59 on the board in the opening 20 minutes and led by 52 points before coasting to the finish.
"I felt really good coming in because we had a great workout Thursday night," Placeres said. "The guys seemed different in their approach tonight and from the start of the game were really dialed in. I'm proud of how we started both halves; those minutes were the difference in the game."
R.J. Simmons continued to shine off the bench, leading the Scots in both points with 25 and rebounds with eight. Simmons was one of five Scots scoring in double figures, with Reed Kemp credited with 13, Jackson Garner 12, Hayden Treadwell 11 and Chase Morgan 10.
Maryville's starters played reduced minutes once the game was decided, with Collin Smith and Javi Rosell the only Scots over 20 minutes.
Terrific Debut for Smith
The first-year Smith earned his first career start and helped the Scots to that lightning onslaught.
Kemp hit a floater and then swished a 3-pointer from the top of the key to get Maryville going. On the next Scots possession, Smith sank a corner 3-ball and MC led 8-0 just 2 minutes in.
"Reed gave us an early punch and then Collin in his first collegiate start looked so poised," Placeres said. "He played with such passion and confidence. I was happy to see that. Sometimes you can be timid in that first start, but he was not.
"I'm really high on him. He's an outstanding young man with a very bright future."
Smith finished with eight points after making 2-of-3 from long range. He grabbed four boards.
Williams Continues to Shine
Placeres also praised another first-year player in Keith Williams. The Georgia forward in 11 minutes was 4-of-4 from the field for eight points to go with five rebounds.
"If Keith can play with that confidence and pose around the rim, he's only going to get better and better," Placeres said.
Simmons scored his career-high 25 points in just 19 minutes, finishing 9-of-13 from the floor. The nine made field goals marked another collegiate best.
"Obviously, R.J. was fantastic," Placeres said. "And then Jackson came out in the second half and hit three straight threes to put the game away."
That flurry by Garner gave the Scots a 71-29 lead with 16:43 remaining. Their largest lead of the game was 88-36 after a pair of Kobe Franklin free throws with 11:26 to play.
Maryville's 14 3-pointers tied a season high (Washington & Lee). Kemp and Garner each went 3-of-4 from downtown, with Morgan 2-of-2, Daryl Rice 2-of-4 and Smith 2-of-3. Rice added a game-high six assists against just two turnovers.
Season Best from Downtown
The Scots shot 56.7 from the floor and a season-best 63.6 percent from 3-point distance. The only letdown was at the free throw line, where Maryville finished 19-of-33 for its second-worst percentage of the season at 57.6.
"I'm thrilled with the way we played, with contributions from a lot of guys," Placeres said. "Now we've got another tough test Saturday at LaGrange."
The 59 first-half points were the most for Maryville since they put 67 on the board before halftime against Johnson to spark a 99-67 victory in January 2016. Maryville scored 60 points in the second half last month in a 112-61 victory at Warren Wilson, and they scored 60 points against these same Hawks a year ago in Maryville en route to a 96-61 triumph.
Friday's win was Maryville's ninth in a row over Huntingdon, giving the Scots a 48-6 series lead dating back to the late 1990s. The 109 points were the most scored by Maryville on the Hawks' home floor and the second most all-time in the series, topped only by a 117-59 MC victory in February 1999.
Maryville improved to 2-1 in the Collegiate Conference of the South and 10-5 overall. Huntingdon is now 2-1 and 8-8. LaGrange is 2-1 and 10-6 after losing 85-67 at home Friday night to Berea. A fourth team, Belhaven, also stands 2-1 in the CCS with a win over the Scots as a quarter of the league slate is complete.
Start time for the Scots at LaGrange is 2 p.m. for the women's game and 4 p.m. for the men's.