SMC Punches Ticket to CAC Men's Basketball Tournament Final

Lawrence, Kansas – The No. 6 seed Spartanburg Methodist College wrote this next chapter of its first season of NAIA play with a convincing 93-76 win over No. 2 seed Arkansas Baptist at the Continental Athletic Conference Men's Basketball Tournament on Saturday night.

The Pioneers (12-15), who will head into its first championship game on Sunday, shot a blistering 58.9% (33 of 56) from the field – 66.7% (12 of 18) from beyond the arc – in the rout. CAC Player of the Year Bryan Bayonne scored a game-high 31 points to lead the Pioneers. The senior from Baton Rouge hit seven 3-pointers in the win. He was joined in double figures by Richard Rojas (12), Tavarez Lacey (12) and DeAnthony Ross (10). 

The Buffaloes were led by Nate Braden, who had 20 points. He was one of four ABU players in double figures along with Ryan Gordan (13), Nick Moye (11) and Deavon Bankston (11).

Bayonne and the Pioneers set the tone as the Baton Rouge native hit a 3 pointer on the first two possessions on its way to the win. Later in the half, Arkansas Baptist managed to make it a five-point game. The Pioneers ended the first 20 minutes, scoring six of the final seven points for a 45-35 halftime lead.

After the Buffaloes cut the deficit to nine, 50-41 with 17:54 left to play, SMC ended the Arkansas Baptist comeback hopes with 12-straight points on its way to the victory.

Next, SMC will play a familiar foe in Carolina University in Sunday's championship game. The two teams split the regular season meetings – SMC won the matchup at Carolina on November 15, 66-53 in Winston Salem and the Bruins won the contest in Spartanburg on February 12, 90-86. The winner will secure the automatic bid at the NAIA First and Second Round, March 14-15 at various campus sites.