SALEM, Va. -- The Methodist men's basketball ended the game on an 8-0 run to hold off Capital University, 58-53, in the opening game of the Dick Leftwich V-Foundation Classic at Roanoke College on Friday night.
 
After Capital (1-2) took a 53-50 lead on Ben Danhoff's jumper with 2:01 to play, the Monarchs kept the Crusaders off the scoreboard the remainder of the contest to win their second straight game.
 
Desmond Parker began MU's game-clinching run with a pair of free throws to pull MU within a point at 53-52 with 1:37 on the clock. Following a Capital missed three pointer, T.J. Gill pushed Methodist in front, 54-53, with a layup at the 1:01 mark.
 
Capital had a chance to retake the lead on the ensuing possession, but after drawing a foul, Andrew Bolka missed a pair of free throws and Tabias Hilliard rebounded the miss and was fouled, sending him to the line. Hilliard made both free throws to extend MU's lead to 56-53 with 28 seconds to play. The Crusaders missed another three on their next possession and Hilliard went back to the line where he iced the game with two more tosses from the charity stripe for a 58-53 lead and 12 seconds to play.
 
The Monarchs prowess at the line proved to be the difference as MU shot 21-of-26 from the line (.808), compared to just 9-of-21 (.429) for the Crusaders. The disparity at the line helped offset Capitals 42-29 edge on the boards. Methodist also forced 18 turnovers while turning the ball over just eight times.
 
In the first half, Capital led by as many as 11 points on several occasions, including 18-7 with 11:50 left in the opening period. Six straight points by Mike Major cut the Monarchs' deficit to five points (18-13) at the 10:04 mark, and a bucket by Parker made it a 21-17 game in favor of Capital with 6:52 to play.
 
The Crusaders stretch their lead out to seven points (28-21) when Darrien Scott converted a three-point play with 2:21 left in the half, but MU closed the half on a 7-0 run to tie the game at 28-28 entering the break. Parker drilled a jumper and added a pair of free throws to make it a three-point game, and Hilliard inched the Monarchs within one (28-27) with 40 seconds on the clock. Parker's jumper just before the halftime buzzer tied the game at 28-28.
 
Parker led all scorers with 19 points on 5-of-13 shooting from the field and 9-of-10 shooting from the line. Hilliard and Major added 11 points apiece, and Hilliard also hit 9-of-10 from the charity stripe. Hilliard and Major also had five rebounds and three steals each.
 
For Capital, A.J. Dixon had 14 points, but shot just 5-of-19 from the floor, including 2-of-13 from three-point range. Charles English added 10 points, and Balka finished with seven points and a game-high 13 rebounds.
 
The Monarchs will take on the winner of Southern Virginia and Roanoke in the championship game on Saturday.