Men's Basketball | 2/6/2010 6:53:14 PM

DANVILLE, Va. - The Methodist University men's basketball team had moved within five points in the final two and a half minutes, but Averett finished 15-for-16 from the free throw line in the final two minutes to win 84-69.

Methodist freshman Kyle Combs hit a 3-pointer in front of the Methodist bench with 2:31 on the clock to cut the Cougars' lead to five points. The Monarchs called the timeout, but Averett drove in for the layup at the other end. The Methodist (2-18, 2-6) offense sputtered over the final two minutes as they were forced to foul and the Cougars pulled away down the stretch.

The Monarchs scored the first four points of the game and held the 6-2 lead early. Averett gained control before both teams exchanged baskets and the lead through the middle of the half. Averett went ahead 15-13 with 7:29 to play in the first and held on 32-24 at the break.

Methodist came back firing in the second half and trimmed the lead to one on free throws from Methodist sophomore Mark Jernigan with 16:02 to play. Freshman Blake Lanier tied the game at 46 on a 3-pointer midway through the half. The Cougars jumped back up to nine before Combs' three put the Monarchs back in contention in the final minutes.

Jernigan paced the Monarchs with 19 points while sophomore Tanner Carnes added 12 points and eight rebounds. Methodist senior Tyler Sigman scored 11 points and sophomore Devonne Blackshear finished with six assists and zero turnovers.

Brandon Malone led the Cougars with 24 points including a 15-for-16 performance from the free throw line.

The Monarchs will travel to the University of Charleston (W.Va.) on Monday in a rescheduled game from December.

Box Score