Men's Basketball | 11/26/2013 11:05:00 PM

Box Score FAYETTEVILLE, N.C. - The Methodist men's basketball team used two Desmond Parker free throws with six seconds in regulation to top visiting Randolph, 54-53, on Tuesday evening at the Riddle Center.
 
After seeing their eight-point halftime lead evaporate into a four-point deficit with under seven minutes left to play, MU (2-4) scored seven of the contest's final 10 points to inch past Randolph (2-1).
 
Following a jumper by the WildCats' Zach Desgain at the 6:54 mark, the Monarchs found themselves trailing (50-46). They would, however, mount a rally, scoring six unanswered points via a Parker layup and a T.J. Gill three-pointer near the four-minute mark, which gave Methodist a one-point edge (51-50). To close out Methodist's scoring run, Tabias Hilliard split a pair of free throws, increasing MU's lead to two with 3:29 on the clock (52-50). Randolph reclaimed its edge on an Evan Horn shot from distance at the 3:09 mark (53-52). After the two teams combined to miss the game's next eight field goal attempts, Parker pulled down an offensive rebound, went up for a shot and was fouled by Desgain, setting up the game-winning free throws. Shortly after Parker's two successful shots from the charity strip, Randolph's Horn launched a last-second two-pointer from the right wing that hit the backboard as the buzzer sounded, giving Methodist its second victory in as many home games this season.
 
In the first half, the Monarchs took what was a tie game with 8:07 left in the period (17-17) and separated themselves from the WildCats with a 14-6 spurt to close out the opening 20 minutes (31-23). In those eight-plus minutes, Methodist had four different players score, including three-pointers by Keemon Ingram and Gill, respectively. In that same span, Methodist shot 40 percent from the floor (4-10) and held Randolph to 25 percent shooting (2-8) while forcing four turnovers.
 
At the end of the contest, Randolph edged MU in terms of field goal percentage (.447-.377) and rebounds (31-29), but gave up 22 points to Methodist's reserves while receiving seven points from its own bench.
 
Contributing to the Methodist scoring attack were Gill (11 points), Brandon Monk (10), Parker (10) and Ingram (9). Keith Corbett hauled in a team-best seven rebounds, and Hilliard dished out a game-high five assists.
 
Horn finished as the game's top scorer with 15 points for Randolph, and Dylan Shiflett added 12 points and nine rebounds. Mike Ehilegbu posted nine points, seven rebounds and three assists.
 
Methodist will be off until Dec. 2 when it travels to Norfolk, Va., to face Virginia Wesleyan. Tipoff is set for 7:00 pm.