Box Score The Maryville College Scots moved to 2-0 within the USA South, and rose above .500 with a 63-58 come-from-behind victory over Ferrum College on Saturday afternoon.
Jaumonee Byrd's 18 points helped to lead the Scots, while Oscar Butler finished with a near double-double in the contest to lead Maryville – the preseason favorites – to a perfect start within the conference.
The Scots trailed 29-21 at the break, after bucketing only 31.8 percent of their shots. Ferrum used different looks, having seven players score within the first half on 42.3 percent shooting.
A dunk by Rashawn Speas gave the Panthers their biggest lead of the game on the first play of the second half, 31-21, but Maryville would make its move.
Butler knocked down a trey off an assist by Byrd to break a 6:43 silence without a field goal. The Scots would use a 9-0 run over 2:13 to trail by only one, 31-30, before a Spencer Peake free throw at 13:43 knotted the game a 33-all.
A trey by Spencer Shoffner nearly a minute later – 12:49 – gave Maryville its first lead since a 17-16 lead with 6:51 remaining in the first half. The junior picked up his fourth foul on the ensuing play, benching him.
The Scots' lead wouldn't last long, however, as free throws and a trey by Jamal Pullen would give Ferrum a 42-38 advantage – a lead they would extend to 50-46, before Shoffner was able to return.
The long-range specialist returned at 8:35, knocking down a jumper moments later. Shoffner led the Scots back to the advantage again, behind a trey off an assist by Anotonio Jackson. A Calvin Songster steal lead to a Byrd bucket, but another trey by Pullen knotted the game again at 53-all.
Ferrum would go scoreless over the next 3:04, as free throws by Songster and Byrd, as well as a Byrd layup from Butler, put Maryville ahead 59-53.
Speas hit a free throw, before another trey by Pullen, along with a free throw, pulled the Panthers to within one, 59-58, with 53 ticks remaining in the game.
A Byrd jumper off an assist by Christian Ford and late free throws by Ford would seal the game, 63-58.
Byrd finished the game with 18 points and eight rebounds on the day, as Shoffner finished the game with 16 points on 3-of-5 shooting from behind the arc.
Butler finished the game with a near double-double, as he had 12 points and nine rebounds to go along with two assists and one block. Ford had seven points, while Calvin Songster and Peake each added four points. Logan Brewer added two points in the Scots' win.
Ferrum (4-8, 0-2 USAS) was led by Pullen, who had 21 points on 7-of-10 shooting from the floor, including a 3-of-4 day from long range. Tyler Mann added 11 to round out the double-digit scorers for the Panthers. Ferrum saw nine players contribute on the floor in points.
Maryville moves to 7-6 on the year. The Scots will travel to Greensboro College and Methodist University on Jan. 9 and 10, before returning home on Jan. 16 and 17 for more USA South action between William Peace and N.C. Wesleyan.
