MC Men’s Basketball shows out against Covenant College
On Feb. 3, the Maryville College Men’s Basketball team played a stellar game against Covenant College at home at the Cooper Athletic Center. The 98-73 win for the Scots led them to a 17-4 overall record, with an undefeated 8-0 record in conference play.
The Scots led the entire game, pushing 30 points ahead at times, and had a 22 point lead at halftime.
Top scorers include Chase Morgan (‘26) and Matt Schneider (‘27), who each contributed 20 points, followed by Jackson Garner (‘26) with 17 points, including five 3-pointers. Jaylon Green (‘26) also added nine points, and Jett Sutton (‘29) and Collin Smith (‘27) both scored 8 points.
David Stone (‘28), a forward for the Scots, gave his perspective on the team’s success and staying undefeated in the conference, and how they plan to feed off the momentum they have gained going into the rest of the season.
“[Being 8-0 in conference play] feels great. We’ve worked hard all season, so seeing that pay off in conference play is really rewarding for our team. Trying to keep it up and stay undefeated in conference is what coach [Raul Placeres] has been instilling in us every day,” Stone said.
Stone discussed how the spirit of both the team and the crowd has driven the team’s success.
“The energy is intense and competitive,” Stone said. “Everyone is locked in, and when the crowd gets involved, it makes it even better, but we have a great squad that pushes each other really hard every day in practice, so everyone is prepared for the big games.”
Ryleigh Maples (‘27), a softball player who attended the game against Covenant College, commented on the liveliness of the game, and how she shows up for her fellow MC athletes.
“Going to the basketball game was a lot of fun because of the electric atmosphere. It is always so exciting when we get to go support other teams during important and big moments in their season!” Maples said.
Stone voiced his advice for continuing to show support for basketball as they continue their season, but also for other athletics as well.
“Keep showing up, being loud, and supporting all sports consistently,” Stone said. “The energy from students and faculty really makes a difference.”
Entering the rest of the season, Stone shared the team’s mentality when it comes to approaching postseason play.
Stone said, “[We’re] just focused on staying disciplined and not getting complacent. Our goal is to keep improving and finish strong. We want to start playing our best basketball right about now.”
Stone shared a Maryville game day tradition for the basketball team, which ensures they put their best foot forward on the court.
“We usually listen to music in the locker room, stay loose, and just hype each other up before we run out. After the game, we will highlight any big stats or performances by players or the team,” Stone said.
The MC men’s basketball team has since defeated Huntingdon College with a score of 71-64, earning them the title of the CCS Regular Season Champions. This win marks the sixth consecutive year that the Scots have earned this title.
The Maryville College 2025-26 Men’s Basketball team photo. (Photo courtesy of Maryville College)