BEREA SEES NEW OPPONENTS AS THEY COMPETE AT MUSIC CITY CLASSIC IN NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE

Game 1: Berea Outclassed by Marietta College (OH) 94-73
Location: Nashville, TN
Berea College faced a tough matchup against Marietta College, ultimately falling 94-73 in their first game at the Music City Classic. After Marietta sank two early three-pointers, Bryce Riley responded with an and-one play to make it 6-3. However, Marietta quickly expanded their lead to 10-3. Despite Trey Minter hitting a three-pointer following a timeout, the Mountaineers struggled to keep pace as Marietta built a sizeable lead. Peyton Dixon added a jumper, and Tyler Moss also converted an and-one, bringing the score to 29-17. Trey Minter closed out the first half with several free throws, and Berea went into halftime down 48-31.

In the second half, the Mountaineers started to close the gap, highlighted by back-to-back three-pointers from Bryce Riley and Trey Minter, while Ja'Rel Montgomery and Demetris Phillips both added layups during a run as Marietta remained scoreless for a stretch. However, despite their efforts, Berea cooled off as Marietta regained control late in the game. Minter excelled at the free-throw line, hitting 14 of 15 attempts and finishing with 26 points and 5 assists, while Demetris Phillips contributed 15 points, 6 rebounds, and 2 blocks. Berea never held the lead throughout the matchup.

Game 2: Huge Bounce Back as Berea Wins 94-70 Over Mount Aloysius College
Location: Nashville, TN
In a significant turnaround, the Mountaineers bounced back with a commanding 94-70 victory over Mount Aloysius College. Berea started strong with two shots from beyond the arc, spurring a fast-break jumper by Marquis Mackey. Bryce Riley contributed two additional three-pointers, putting Berea ahead 16-10 early in the game. The momentum continued as Demetris Phillips hit two free throws at the end of the first half, leaving the Mountaineers with a comfortable 44-27 lead at the locker room.

Ja'Rel Montgomery opened the second half with a three-pointer, followed by Bryce Riley sinking a mid-range jumper. Andrew Jones also joined the scoring spree with a three-pointer that extended Berea's lead to as much as 30 points. The Mountaineers focused on maintaining possession and dominating inside the paint to secure the win, snapping a five-game losing streak. Demetris Phillips led the team with 20 points, 10 rebounds, 3 steals, and 1 block, while Bryce Riley contributed with 3 three-pointers, 11 rebounds, and 5 assists.

Summary:
Record for the Weekend: 1 win, 1 loss
Key Players: Trey Minter, Demetris Phillips, Bryce Riley, Ja'Rel Montgomery
Next Game: Berea will look to build on their momentum as they continue their season.