Men's Basketball | 1/7/2012 9:15:00 PM

Box Score DANVILLE, Va. - The Methodist men's basketball team was in another battle down to the wire on Saturday afternoon, but Averett University edged the Monarchs 77-71.

The game was back and forth early with Methodist (3-11, 0-2) taking the 14-11 lead with 14:29 to play in the first half. The Cougars (6-8, 1-1) responded with a 19-0 run to take control midway through the half. Averett led by as many as 17 points in the first half, but the Monarchs made a late 12-0 run of their own trimming the lead to three at 36-33. Methodist's Tyler Deal hit three 3-pointers on three straight possessions before James Whitehead closed the run with a 3-pointer of his own. Averett stopped the run with five points in the final minute to lead 41-33 at the break.

The Monarchs tied the game at 48 with 13:02 on the clock in the second half, but the Cougars maintained the lead with a basket at the other end. Averett extended their lead to nine points with 1:49 remaining, but Devonne Blackshear hit a free throw followed by a 3-pointer from Kyle Combs and a basket from Blackshear to move the Monarchs back within three points with 46 seconds on the clock. Methodist struggled with a turnover and a missed shot in their final two possessions while Averett finished up 3-for-4 from the free throw line to earn the 77-71 win.

Bryan Hockaday led the Monarchs with 19 points and 14 rebounds while Whitehead had 12 points. Mark Jernigan and Deal had 11 points apiece.

Justin Pierce paced the Cougars with 28 points.

Methodist will be back in action on Wednesday when they travel to Christopher Newport University for a 7:30 p.m. tip-off.

Box Score