Sports clichés can sometimes bump up against each other.  For example, claiming that "the best defense is a good offense" directly contradicts the age-old maxim that "defense wins championships." 

If that is a valid sports debate, then the evidence on display at McAlister Gymnasium on Wednesday, February 3 made a muddled argument that defense reigns when Montreat College's Cavaliers defeated Appalachian Athletic Conference leader UVa-Wise College 70-67 to snap a three-game losing streak.

Entering the game with an AAC-best 8-2 conference mark, the Highland Cavaliers from UVa-Wise sported the highest scoring team in the league, posting an average of 77.7 points per game.  Facing them was a struggling Montreat team who are at their best when they clamp down on defense.  As the team with the second strongest defense in the AAC, the Cavaliers yield only 58.2 points per game.  Something, to use another worn out expression, had to give.

What happened was this: Montreat allowed about ten more points to UVa-Wise than they typically give up, and UVa-Wise scored ten fewer than they usually score.  And that was enough for the Cavaliers as they built a solid early lead, never trailed, and held on during a tense finish. 

Head Coach Craig Jackson watched his team raise its conference mark to 5-7 and move to 15-8 overall as Montreat opened a four-game home stand with, arguably, their biggest win of the season.  Anjelica Jackson scored a career-high 14 points, Kera Bryant battled for 12 points and 6 rebounds, Titi Takai also posted a career-high in points, with 12, and Alicia Wallace reached double figures with 10 to lead Montreat to victory.

Kristen Mullins kept the Highland Cavaliers close with 24 points and 8 rebounds.

Montreat plays three home games over the next ten days, beginning with a conference test against Reinhardt College, who visit campus on Saturday, February 6 for a 5:30 tip.