DEMOREST, Ga. -- Tabias Hilliard poured in a season-high 23 points, and the Methodist men's basketball team rallied from an eight-point halftime deficit before ultimately falling, 82-79, at Piedmont College on Sunday afternoon.
 
Methodist drops to 6-8 (2-2 USA South) on the season, while the Lions improve to 8-6 (3-1 USA South) with the win.
 
Hilliard connected on 6-of-10 shots from the field and 8-of-9 free throws in leading four MU players in double figures. He scored 14 of his 23 points in the second half as the Monarchs erased an eight-point deficit at the break (38-30) to take a second half lead before Piedmont rallied down the stretch.
 
The Monarchs opened the second half with a 14-5 run to turn the aforementioned deficit into a 44-43 lead at the 14:19 mark as Hilliard converted a three-point play. Methodist used a stifling defense that limited the Lions to 2-of-11 shooting with four turnovers to begin the second half. Conversely, MU hit on 6-of-11 field-goal attempts and committed just one turnover.
 
After the Methodist surge to begin the second period, the Lions answered with a brief 9-2 spurt that pushed the hosts back in front, 52-46, by the 12:04 mark. The Monarchs had one last push, and trimmed their deficit to a single point (59-58) on a pair of free throws by Hilliard with 7:43 to play, but that was as close as MU would get as Piedmont hung on down the stretch for the three-point win.
 
The second-half rally by MU came after the Monarchs shot just 30.8 percent (8-26) over the opening 20 minutes. Methodist did manage to get to the line 20 times in the opening stanza, converting on 12 attempts, to keep the Lions, who shot 46.4 percent (13-28), within reach.
 
Joining Hilliard in double figures for MU were Desmond Parker (16), Mike Major (15), and Brandon Monk (11). Monk also pulled down a team-high eight rebounds, while Parker and Major had six boards apiece.
 
For Piedmont, Chris Meeks had a team-high 16 points, and Trae Gaines added 13. Marquise Lanier and Chase England chipped in 12 and 11 points respectively. Meeks completed a double-double with 12 boards, and Jessie Jenkins posted seven points, eight boards and four blocks.
 
The Monarchs are back in action on Wednesday at William Peace beginning at 5:30 pm.