FAYETTEVILLE, N.C. -- The Methodist men's basketball team trimmed a 17-point second-half deficit to four points in the final minute, but Averett held on for a 67-64 win over the Monarchs at the March F. Riddle Center on Saturday afternoon.
 
The Monarchs (8-11, 4-5 USA South) trailed by 11 at that half and saw the Cougars (12-6, 6-2 USA South) extend their lead to as many as 17 points (49-32) with 9:49 left to play before making a run at Averett in the game's final minutes.
 
After Cody Stephens' layup gave AU the aforementioned lead, MU quickly used a 12-4 run to trim its deficit to nine points (53-44) with 6:50 to play on a jump shot by Tabias Hilliard. Methodist took advantage of an overzealous Averett defense that sent MU to the line six times over  that stretch by hitting 5-of-6 shots from the charity stripe in addition to 4-of-7 shots from the floor.
 
Averett restored a double-digit lead (55-44) shortly thereafter before the Monarchs made one final push. A 15-10 run by Methodist began with a layup by T.J. Gill followed by a back-to-back layups by Brandon Monk, a pair of free throws by Mike Major and another bucket by Monk pulled MU to within six points with 3:14 to play. Methodist still trailed by six (63-57) with 48 seconds to play after James Contreras split a pair of free throws for the Cougars. Major followed with a layup and MU called for time trailing by four points (63-59) with 38 seconds to play.
 
A turnover by Averett's Devontae Pannell gave MU the ball with a chance to make it a one-possession game, but the Monarchs turned the ball back over and Bradley Robinson gave AU a six-point edge (65-59) with 30 seconds to play. Monk made it a four-point game seven seconds later and Trevor West missed a pair of free throws with 21 seconds on the clock to give MU another chance to cut into its deficit. The Monarchs, however, turned the ball over once more and Bradley Robinson calmly knocked down two free throws with seconds on the clock to seal the win. Desmond Parker hit a long three pointer at the buzzer to account for the final scoring.
 
Both teams started slow, shooting below 40.0 percent in the opening 20 minutes, but Averett used a 25-11 edge in first-half rebounding, including a commanding 13-3 edge on the offensive glass, to assume a 29-18 lead at halftime. Methodist had as many first-half turnovers (8) as it did made field goals.
 
Major led all scorers with 15 points, 11 coming in the second half. He added four rebounds and three steals. Monk finished with 13 points off the bench, and Parker chipped in 11 points and a team-high eight rebounds in reserve duty. He also contributed a pair of assists, two blocks and two steals.
 
Carter Jones led the Cougars with 13 points and added six rebounds, while Charles Bryant had a double-double of 11 points and 10 rebounds. Robinson and West each scored 10 points, with Robinson chipping in eight boards and West six assists.
 
Methodist will play host to Greensboro on Wednesday beginning at 7:30 pm.