Box Score The Maryville College Scots' basketball team saw their 2016-17 season come to an end Friday night during the semifinals of the USA South Athletic Conference Tournament.
Maryville suffered a hard-fought, 83-73 loss to the No. 2-seeded Monarchs of Methodist College. Methodist moves on to face the No. 5-seeded LaGrange Panthers for the USA South tournament crown.
The Scots' season ends with a 20-7 record. The 2016-17 campaign marks the first 20-win season for Head Coach Randy Lambert's squad since 2010.
On Friday, Maryville couldn't fight off an astonishing 57.8 percent (34-of-59) from the floor from Methodist, as the Scots could only muster a 25-of-63 (39.7 percent) outing.
However, 10 treys kept Maryville in the contest, as they trailed by only one with 5:44 left in the game, 65-64. Methodist would make a run, however, outscoring the Scots 8-2 for a 73-66 lead. They would ride that for the remainder of the game, for the final, 83-73.
Maryville – winners of a share of the Regular Season USA South title – posted a 56.7 percent effort in the first half to take a 47-44 lead to the locker room.
The Scots came out cold in the second half, though, shooting just 24.2 percent in the second half.
MC was led by Colt Nokes, who neared a double-double with 15 points and nine boards. Nokes tallied 14 points in the first half of the contest, as he added an assist, a steal and a block.
Dante Hoppa had 13 points to go with seven boards, four assists and two steals, while Tyler Spicer added 12 points as a senior.
Calvin Songster had 10 points, five rebounds, two assists and two steals for Maryville. Jay Bowyer added seven points, three assists, two steals and a board, while Kaleb Estes had six points and three assists. Emier Bowman had four points, while Emanuelle Garcia and Blake Bowman each added three points.
For Methodist University (17-10), it was Davion Ayabarreno who led the way with a double-double. Ayabarreno shot 11-of-13 from the floor, while scoring 23 points with 10 rebounds and four assists.
Jackson Whitley added a double-double 15 points and 13 boards, while Rae Hall (14) and Bryan Rouse (13) each scored double figures.
