Third times not a charm for Skyhawks, fall to Montreat at AAC tournament

KINGSPORT, Tenn. (February 23, 2023) – The Point University men's basketball team played tonight in the first round of the AAC men's basketball tournament against Montreat and would fall 69-57.

The Cavaliers would win the tip-off and take the opening possession. Jarden Maze started the game for Montreat with a made jump shot. The first basket for the Skyhawks came at the 19:23 mark when Benjamin Ross would connect from three-point land to make it 3-2. Justice Hayes would get fouled and make both of his shots at the 18:37 mark to make it 5-2. After an apparent foul on Jake Smith, the Skyhawks would see Jack Gray land a three-pointer with just under 17:30 mark to take an 8-5 lead.After a missed shot by Jarden Maze from Montreat, the Skyhawks would get a turnover. Gabriel Rivera would foul RJ Selman. After the foul, Javier Turner would make a layup and cause Montreat to take a 30 second timeout at the 15:34 mark with Point up 10-7. Turner would come up with a steal and Jake Smith will find Benjamin Ross for a three-ball. The Cavaliers Tyler Murray would foul RJ Selman driving in the paint. Selman would land both free throws from the charity stripe to make it 15-9. The Cavaliers would get a three-pointer the old fashion way when Mike Flenory would get fouled on his layup and make his free throw to make it 21-18 Montreat. After the Cavaliers would get a dunk and a layup, the Skyhawks Head Coach, Jake Deer would call a full timeout down 25-18 with 8:49 left to play in the first half. The timeout proved to help because the Skyhawks would get a three-pointer by Benjamin Ross, assist by Jake Smith to make it 25-21. The 6'11 Javier Turner would come up with a huge block and defensive rebound at the 8:07 mark. After a foul by Benjamin Ross, Cavaliers freshman, Gabriel Rivera would enter the game for Mike Flenory who took the charge on Ross. Jack Gray would get his floater to go at the 6:43 mark to cut the lead to four points at 27-23. After a Montreat turnover, Javier Turner would back in on Rivera and lay it on the glass to get the Skyhawks closer with a score of 31-28. The Cavaliers would commit their sixth turnover and the Skyhawks would capitalize on it with a made jump shot from Benjamin Ross from 15 feet out to bring Point within one-point at 31-30. Coming off the Montreat's 30 second timeout, the Cavaliers Michael Erbeck would get pick pocketed by RJ Selman on the steal. Selman would get a chance to get a shot off before the half but couldn't get it to go. Benjamin Ross would lead all scorers going into the locker room with 11 points and 5 rebounds. The Skyhawks would trail the Cavaliers by one-point with the score at halftime, 31-30.

The Cavaliers would open up the second half on a 4-0 run and that run would conclude on a made layup by Jake Smith to make 35-32 in favor of Montrat. Benjamin Ross would make a layup but have a rare miss at the charity stripe to make it 49-41 in favor of the Cavaliers. After a breakaway layup by the Cavaliers, Ross would be fouled again, but this time sink both shots at the charity stripe to make it 51-42. Jarden Maze would miss a layup with Benjamin Ross coming up with the defensive rebound. Jack Gray would connect on a jump shot to give him 10 points on the night and cut the lead to 51-44 with 6:25 remaining and Point would call a 30 second timeout. The Cavaliers Michael Erbeck has had the hot hand in this contest and would give him 19 points on the game. Darius Bryant would launch a three-pointer from beyond NBA three-point land to give Montreat a 56-44 lead at the 5:15 mark. Benjmain Ross would make a three-pointer of his own to cut the lead to 56-47. At the 4:04 mark, Darius Bryant would hit another three-pointer from way beyond the three-point line to make it 60-47 for Montreat. After that made shot, Point would call a full timeout. Coming out of the timeout, Jake Smith would make a running floater to make it 60-49. Darius Bryant would hit another three-pointer to give Montreat a 63-49 lead. Jake Smith would make a layup to bring the Montreat lead back to twelve points. At the 2:19 mark, Jack Gray would connect on a three-pointer to cut the lead within nine points. The Cavaliers would remain hot from three-point land when Jarden Maze connects to make it 66-54. With 1:23 remaining in the game, Montreat would call a full timeout when the Skyhawks would run a trap. The Cavaliers Michael Erbeck would find his way to the charity stripe for a one and one after being fouled by Jack Gray. Erbeck would connect on both shots to give him 21 points on the night. RJ Selman would make a three-pointer to make it 68-57 at 1:08 left to play in the contest. Michael Erbeck would get fouled with 17 seconds remaining and would make one of his two free throws to make it 69-57 in favor of the Cavaliers. Theaplais Williams would get the last shot for the Skyhawks and miss his layup. After a Michael Erbeck defensive rebound, the Cavaliers would hold on for the 69-57 victory.

The Montreat Cavaliers' Michael Erbeck would lead all scorers with his double-double performance with his 22 points and 10 rebounds. The freshman Erbeck didn't play in the first two meetings against Point. The Skyhawks would also get a double-double performance from Benjamin Ross, with his 18 points and 11 rebounds on the night.

The Point Skyhawks men's basketball 2022-2023 season has ended with tonight's loss. The men's basketball team finished with an overall record of 15-14 and a conference record of 14-10.