BLUEFIELD, Va. – Bluefield University men's basketball battled wire-to-wire but fell 65–63 to Montreat on Saturday afternoon inside the Dome, as a pair of late free throws proved to be the difference. The game featured 10 ties and seven lead changes, with neither team leading by more than six points.

Bluefield opened the afternoon with energy, taking early leads behind baskets from Ke'Shaun Tonsall and DJ McDonald. A strong stretch from Danny Alford—including a jumper and a three-pointer—pulled the Rams even at 11–11. Moments later, Isaiah Sanders finished a fastbreak layup to keep the game level, and Zac Hall drilled a right-wing three with 1:15 remaining in the half. With time expiring, Elijah White buried a deep three at the buzzer to send the game into halftime tied 30–30.

The second half continued the back-and-forth flow. McDonald scored inside to tie the game at 32, and Sanders answered a Montreat three with a transition layup to keep the Rams within one. Tonsall's free throws and a driving finish from Lenair Young tied the game at 38, and White later gave Bluefield a 41–40 lead with a jumper and free throw at the 13:37 mark.

After Montreat regained a small cushion, the Rams responded again—Tonsall hit a mid-range jumper, Sanders scored in transition, and Alford went coast-to-coast to tie the game at 51–51 with 8:41 left. The Rams remained within one possession throughout the final minutes, and Alford sank a clutch three with 1:51 remaining to give Bluefield a 62–61 advantage.

Montreat converted three of its final four free throws, taking a 65–63 lead with 14 seconds left. Bluefield had a chance to tie or win on its final possession, but Tonsall's contested jumper in the lane narrowly missed.

Alford led the Rams with 12 points and eight rebounds off the bench, while White and Tonsall each added 12 points of their own. McDonald posted eight points and a game-high 11 rebounds, and Sanders contributed six points, three assists, and strong perimeter defense.

Bluefield (1–9, 1–4 AAC) returns home Wednesday to host Johnson at 7:30 p.m. inside the Dome.