Men's Basketball | 1/5/2013 6:58:00 PM
Box Score FAYETTEVILLE, N.C. -- Sixteenth-ranked Christopher Newport used a 16-0 over the first 5:24 of the second half to dispatch the Methodist men's basketball team, 68-48, on Saturday afternoon at the Riddle Center.
After the Monarchs (3-8, 0-2 USA South) had taken a 25-22 lead into the break, the Captains (10-1, 3-0 USA South) scored the first 16 points of the second half to take a 38-25 lead by the 14:36 mark. The Captains forced MU into 0-of-8 shooting with five turnovers to begin the half, while CNU made seven of its first eight shots of the half. Jon Snead led the charge for CNU with seven points during the run.
Tabias Hilliard finally got the Monarchs on the scoreboard with a pair of free throws at the 14:06 mark to pull Methodist within 11 points (38-27), but that would be as close as the Monarchs would get the remainder of the way as CNU pulled away down the stretch.
In the first half, both teams found scoring to be at a premium as CNU held a 7-6 lead at the 12:40 mark. The Captains would take either team's largest lead of the first half, 15-9, on a Tra Benefield layup with 6:13 to play, before MU stormed back with a 12-2 scoring run that gave the Green & Gold a 21-17 lead with 2:31 to play.
Desmond Parker started the run with a pair of free throws and
Christian McRae capped the spurt with a layup. Mike Cherry hit a three on the CNU's ensuing possession to make it a one-point game, 21-20, and MU would enter the break up 25-22.
For the game, the Captains shot 44.8 percent (26-58) from the floor, compared to just 25.0 percent (14-56) for Methodist. CNU also held a 45-32 edge on the glass.
Methodist was paced by
Kyle Combs,
Tabias Hilliard and
Brandon Monk, who all tallied eight points. Combs added a team-best eight boards and McRae finished with four points, four rebounds and three steals.
Benefield led all scorers with 16 points and grabbed 11 boards. Nik Biberaj added 14 points and Cherry finished with 11 points and four assists.
Methodist is back in action tomorrow when it hosts Maryville at 4:00 pm.
