Men's Basketball has Competitive Battles Against Mount St. Joseph and Bluffton

Game 1: Mountaineers at Hanover

The men's basketball team traveled to Indiana to take on conference rival Hanover, who had dropped the first meeting between the two in Berea. The game opened as a tightly contested battle, with both teams trading baskets through the first 10 minutes. Hanover then caught fire, knocking down several three-pointers and converting easy looks to build a commanding 47–28 halftime lead.

The second half featured a back-and-forth pace as both teams exchanged baskets, but Hanover maintained control and never relinquished its first-half advantage, securing an 82–61 victory. Freshman Zavian Douglass led the Mountaineers with 14 points and six rebounds, while senior Bryce Riley added 12 points and nine boards. Freshman Zach Hudson also contributed 11 points and five assists.

Game 2: Mountaineers vs. Rose-Hulman

The men's team rounded out its weekend by hosting the top-seeded Rose-Hulman Engineers. In an earlier season matchup, Berea lost by 32, but this time it was a different story.

The Mountaineers opened the game with a brand-new defensive look that had not been shown all season, catching the Engineers off guard and allowing Berea to stay within striking distance. The Mountaineers trailed by just three at halftime, 27–24.

The second half featured a back-and-forth battle with several lead changes, but Rose-Hulman's size and physicality ultimately showed in the final two minutes. The Engineers capitalized in the paint and converted at the free-throw line to pull away for a 66–58 victory.

Senior Bryce Riley led the Mountaineers with a team-high 23 points and 11 rebounds, while junior Jae'dyn Gist added a strong performance with 12 points and 13 rebounds. Freshman Zach Hudson also contributed 10 points and five assists.

Up Next:

The men's team returns to action Wednesday at home when they host crosstown rival Transylvania.