Men's Basketball | 1/31/2012 10:11:00 PM

Box Score FAYETTEVILLE, N.C. - Methodist took their first lead of the game midway through the second half and held on down the stretch to edge Averett 65-64.

The Cougars went up 22-15 midway through the first half, but the Monarchs came back to cut the lead to two points with 2:58 left in the first half. Averett extended their lead to eight before James Whitehead drained a 3-pointer in the final minute to move the Monarchs within five at halftime 31-26.

The Monarchs battled through the second half and took their first lead of the game on a layup from Jake McSwain with 11:05 left to play. Methodist led by as many as four before Averett came back and regained the lead. The Cougars led by 57-50 when the Monarchs scored six straight points. Whitehead hit two free throws with 1:33 remaining to give Methodist the 61-60 lead, but Averett came right back with a 3-pointer at the other end. Methodist's Kyle Combs made two free throws with just under a minute on the clock to tie it up at 63. The Cougars were fouled on their next possession and Paul Porter his second free throw, but Methodist came back down the court and Bryan Hockaday hit what would be the game-winning shot. Averett had one final possession, but came up short giving Methodist the 65-64 win.

Hockaday paced the Monarchs with 19 points and 12 rebounds while Whitehead scored 12 points and Terrell Stallings had 10 points and seven boards.

Marquis Scott led Averett with 23 points while Porter finished with 12.

Methodist will be back in action on Saturday when they host Shenandoah University at 4 p.m.

Box Score