Men's Basketball | 11/23/2013 5:38:00 PM

Box Score NEWPORT NEWS, Va. -- Despite six players in double-figure scoring and a 59.0 percent mark from the floor, the Methodist men's basketball team fell, 97-91, to Emory in the opening game of the Holiday Inn Captains Shootout hosted by Christopher Newport on Saturday afternoon at the Freeman Center.
 
The Monarchs (1-3) opened the contest hitting seven of their first 10 shots from the field, including three buckets from Brandon Monk, but found themselves tied at 15-15 at the 11:32 mark following a tip-in by Emory's (2-2) Josh Schattie. The Eagles combatted the fast start by MU by forcing four turnovers, hitting four of their first 11 shots from the floor and sinking 5-of-6 free throws.
 
After Emory tied the contest, Methodist answered with a 12-4 run, connecting on 5-of-6 shots from the field, to take a 27-19 lead with 8:04 in the opening stanza following five straight points from Keith Corbett. Emory pulled to within four points (32-28) with 4:56 in the half before Methodist stretched its lead to 12 points (40-28) at the 2:46 mark with an 8-0 burst, including five straight points from Corbett again. Emory managed to trim its deficit to seven points (43-36) at the break.
 
The Eagles opened the second half with a 10-2 run to take its first lead of the contest (46-45) on a pair of free throws by Jake Davis with 17:37 to play. The Monarchs missed each of their first three shots from the floor and turned the ball over three times, while Emory made each of its first four field-goal attempts. Methodist wrestled the lead back and held a four-point advantage (57-53) after Monk made good on a pair of free throws at the 13:57 mark, but Emory came right back to tie the game, for the eighth time, at 62-62 on Michael Florin's jumper with 11:30 to play. The Eagles took the lead for good on Schattie's jumper during the ensuing possession and made 15-of-18 free throws down the stretch to hold off the Monarchs.
 
For the game, Methodist  knocked down 39-of-61 shots from the floor, including 6-of-16 (.375) from beyond the arc, compared to 47.5 percent (29-61) for the Eagles, but Emory got to the line 36 times, converting 30 attempts (.833), while MU only made 16 trips (13-16). The Monarchs also held a 34-29 edge on the glass, but turned the ball over 20 times to just 11 for Emory.
 
Tabias Hilliard and Desmond Parker led MU with 14 points apiece. Corbett added 12 and Monk, Bryan Hockaday and T.J. Gill chipped in 11 points each. Hockaday completed his third double-double of the season with a game-high 10 rebounds and added three blocks. Corbett chipped in seven boards and two steals.
 
For Emory, Davis led all scorers with 28 points, including a perfect 15-for-15 showing at the line, while adding eight rebounds. Will Trawick totaled 24 points, knocking down 6-of-8 three-point attempts, and Schatte and McPherson Moore finished with 14 and 13 points, respectively. Florin had eight points, 10 assists and four steals.
 
The Monarchs are back in action tomorrow against either York (N.Y.) or Christopher Newport in the consolation game at 4:00 pm.