Box Score Maryville Glides Past Johnson 87-65
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – Myles Rasnick just missed a career high with 24 points and Chase Ridenour added 16 to lead fast-starting Maryville to an 87-65 victory at Johnson in the season opener.
Ranked No. 23 in the preseason by D3hoops.com, Maryville flashed its credentials in the first half in bolting to a 52-25 advantage. The Scots over those opening 20 minutes shot 52 percent from the floor, including 5-of-8 from 3-point distance.
Rasnick scored 16 in the first half and Ridenour 15. Maryville with the big lead substituted freely, especially in the second half. The Scots bench outscored the Johnson reserves 23-7.
"I really liked our start," Maryville head coach Raul Placeres said. "Scoring 52 in the first half and limiting them to under 30 – that was ideal. We had some first-game jitters, but I was really pleased with our defensive effort and ball movement in that first half."
Johnson grabbed a couple of early leads, but then Ridenour knocked down a 3-pointer for an 8-7 lead with 17:36 showing. That bucket started a 16-0 Scots run and they never trailed again.
Ridenour scored nine of his 16 points during that spurt, with Rasnick adding five and Nicholas Clifton contributing the other two points to make it a 21-7 margin with 13:34 on the clock.
The Scots put together an 8-0 run that made it 29-10, and then the lead held firm until Maryville finished the half on a 9-1 run for its largest advantage of the half at 52-25.
Maryville pushed its lead to 29 points on three occasions early in the second half before beginning to mix and match the lineup.
Lots to Like in Game 1
"I loved our energy from the bench," Placeres said. "And 20 assists out of 33 field goals made, you always like to see that."
Maryville outrebounded the host Royals 46-29, including 15 offensive boards that led to 12 second-chance points. The Scots did not allow Johnson a single second-chance point.
Felix Uadiale scored 11 points and Clifton led all rebounders with 11. Maryville's assist leader with JR Sanders with seven to go with six points. Rasnick with his 24 points finished one shy of his career best, set last season when he scored 26 against Piedmont.
Miles Long and Coby Jones scored 17 points apiece for Johnson, which last season won the National Christian College Athletic Association Division II championship. The Royals are now 1-1.
Next up for Maryville (1-0) is an exhibition game at Division I Samford. Tipoff Tuesday is 7 p.m. Central time, with ESPN+ carrying the livestream.
"A lot of growth will take place from the first game to the second. I didn't like how sloppy we got in the second half on both ends, but we will get back to work Saturday and get ready for Samford."
