ATLANTA, Ga. – The Maryville men's basketball team battled to the final possession but ultimately fell to Bates, 82–79, in a non-conference matchup Tuesday afternoon at the Woodruff PE Center.
The Scots moved to 9–4 overall, while the Bobcats improved to 10–1 on the season.
Chase Morgan led Maryville with 23 points on 9-of-17 shooting while adding five rebounds and three assists. Jackson Garner followed closely with 22 points, knocking down five three-pointers and going 5-for-6 from the free-throw line. Matthew Schneider chipped in 13 points, while Javi Rosell dished out six assists and added seven points.
Maryville shot 40.0 percent from the field and 28.6 percent from beyond the arc, while hitting 82.1 percent of its free throws. The Scots were dominant on the offensive glass, pulling down 12 offensive rebounds and scoring 18 second-chance points to stay within striking distance throughout the contest.
Bates opened the game with early momentum, using efficient perimeter shooting to build a double-digit advantage midway through the first half. Maryville struggled to find its rhythm offensively early, but baskets from Morgan and Garner helped stabilize the Scots. Despite a late three-pointer from Garner and a pair of free throws from Schneider, Bates carried a 40–28 lead into the halftime break.
The Scots came out of the locker room with renewed energy, shooting over 58 percent from the field in the second half. Morgan scored seven points in the opening minutes of the period, while Garner connected from deep to spark a steady comeback. A fast-break dunk from Collin Smith and another three from Garner trimmed the deficit to single digits and shifted momentum.
With just under nine minutes remaining, Maryville surged ahead for the first time after a Garner three-pointer gave the Scots a 61–60 lead. The teams traded baskets over the next several possessions, with Morgan and Jamal Ware converting inside to keep Maryville close. After free throws from Garner extended the Scots' lead to three, Bates responded with timely shooting and second-chance opportunities to regain the advantage.
In the final minute, Maryville continued to fight back as Garner hit a jumper to pull the Scots within three. A late fast-break three from Rosell cut the deficit to two with three seconds remaining, but Bates sealed the game at the free-throw line to escape with the narrow 82–79 victory.
