MONTREAT, N.C.— The Montreat men's basketball team opened its 2023-24 regular season Saturday afternoon with a home non-conference matchup against the University of Rio Grande (Ohio) RedStorm, a team receiving votes in the NAIA Men's Basketball Coaches' Preseason Top 25 Poll. In a competitive ballgame from start to finish, the Cavaliers' last-second shot fell just off the mark as the visitors snagged a 58-55 win inside McAlister Gymnasium, dropping Montreat to 0-1 in the process.
 
Efficient shooting powered the Cavs' offense early as Collin Mills and Michael Erbeck took turns burying shots from the perimeter. Erbeck nailed a pair of 3-pointers during a 13-2 Cavalier over a 4:24 stretch that saw the home team move in front by double-digits (18-7) just over eight minutes into the contest.
 
Rio Grande (1-0), an efficient team in its own right, sparked an 8-0 run to pull within a basket at 18-15. Erbeck did his best to fend off the visitors as he poured in 14 of Montreat's first 28 points; however, the RedStorm shot 50.0 percent (13-26 FG) from the field in the first half, and that success rate helped Rio Grande snatch its first lead of the day with merely 3:59 remaining in the period before expanding the edge out to 34-28.
 
After facing their first deficit of the day, Mills and the Cavs responded to close out the half. A native of Asheville, N.C., Mills contributed to the hosts' final seven points of the frame, including a 3-point bucket in the waning seconds of the half to push Montreat back in front, 37-36.
 
Along with their 50.0 percent first-half performance from the floor, the visitors also connected on 42.9 percent (6-14 3-pt FG) of their looks from deep. The Cavaliers attempted 11 more shots than Rio Grande through 20 minutes, but they converted at a slightly lower percentage from the field (15-27 FG; 40.5 percent) and beyond the arc (7-17 3-pt FG; 41.2 percent). A 7-2 edge on the offensive glass saw the hosts enter the intermission with a 20-15 rebounding lead.
 
Shooting woes plagued Montreat in the second half as the home team missed its first 11 shot attempts. Jack Keller made the Cavs' initial basket of the latter frame, but not before Rio Grande rattled off a 14-1 run to take a 50-38 lead.
 
Gabriel Rivera built on Keller's make with an and-one on the Cavaliers' next possession, swinging momentum in the hosts' favor with 11:24 remaining in regulation.
 
Montreat's defense took its turn controlling the flow of the game as the half progressed. By forcing tough looks and limiting second-chance opportunities, the Cavs forced 10 consecutive misses and held the RedStorm without a point for 8:01. During that span, a 16-1 Montreat run built a 54-51 lead with only 2:16 left.
 
While Rio Grande failed to score for over eight minutes, it saved its points for late. Back-to-back buckets, including a 3-pointer, pushed the visitors in front for good with 1:21 remaining on the clock. The Cavaliers had a pair of chances to tie the game and force overtime in the closing seconds, but a 1-for-2 trip to the free-throw line and a missed 3-pointer at the buzzer saw the home team fall on the wrong side of a 58-55 final score.
 
"We got everything we could've asked for—Rio Grande is picked to win its league, it's receiving votes nationally and we stood nose-to-nose with them," said head coach Anthony Barringer. "Tip your cap to Rio Grande. They weathered the storm on multiple occasions. We got stops at key points, but we didn't convert on as many of them as we would've liked. We'll watch the film and get ready for our conference slate."
 
The RedStorm concluded the afternoon with a 21-for-53 (39.6 percent) showing from the floor and an 8-of-27 (29.6 percent) effort from deep. Meanwhile, Montreat made just five of its 35 second-half shot attempts and finished at 27.8 percent (20-72 FG) overall and 28.0 percent (7-25 3-pt FG) from deep. Both teams made eight free throws, while the Cavs did so on four fewer attempts (15-11). With a massive 19-4 offensive rebounding advantage, the hosts won the rebounding battle at a 50-33 clip. Rio Grande committed one fewer turnover (11-10) and notched 10 more assists (14-4).
 
Erbeck led the Cavaliers with 15 points and 11 rebounds for a double-double. Mills joined his teammate in double figures in scoring with 13 points of his own, while CamRon Sias hauled in nine boards.
 
With a little time off before its next contest, the Montreat men's basketball team turns its attention to its Appalachian Athletic Conference opener at Tennessee Wesleyan University on Nov. 8. Tipoff is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. in Athens, Tenn.