Holly Springs, Miss. – The Blue Mountain Christian men's basketball team put together a strong first half and fought to the final horn on Monday night, but the Toppers ultimately came up short in a 77–73 road contest against Rust College.
Blue Mountain Christian came out with energy early, setting the tone on both ends of the floor. The Toppers established an offensive rhythm in the opening minutes and built momentum behind efficient shooting and solid defensive pressure. That surge carried into the latter part of the first half, as BMCU pushed its lead into double figures and went into the locker room holding a 43–33 advantage.
Rust responded coming out of halftime, tightening defensively and stringing together multiple scoring runs to shift the flow of the game. The Bearcats gradually chipped away at the deficit and eventually moved in front midway through the second half. Blue Mountain Christian continued to battle, answering baskets and staying within reach down the stretch, but Rust was able to convert in key moments to preserve the win.
Offensively, the Toppers were led by Jalen Boyd-Savage, who finished with a team-high 18 points while knocking down four shots from beyond the arc. Michael Hill followed with 14 points, providing a steady scoring presence throughout the game. Gavin Shannon anchored the interior for Blue Mountain Christian, pulling down 14 rebounds to go along with seven points. Esrael Yant added an efficient scoring spark off the bench with 12 points, while Kam Carter contributed nine points and three assists as part of a balanced team effort.
Despite the result, Blue Mountain Christian showed poise and competitiveness, particularly in the opening half, and continued to fight until the final possession. The Toppers next game will be at home versus UT-Southern.
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