FERRUM, Va. -- DJ Christian's rebound and putback off a missed free throw gave Ferrum a 62-61 win over the Methodist men's basketball team on Saturday afternoon at Swartz Gym.
 
With the Monarchs (12-13, 7-7 USA South) holding a 61-59 lead in the game's final minute, Ferrum's Rashawn Speas was fouled on a drive to the basket with five seconds on the clock. After hitting on the first free throw to pull FC within a point, Speas second attempt was no good, but Christian knifed in and tipped rebound home to give the Panthers a 62-61 lead. Following the inbounds play, the Monarchs were unable to get a potential game-winning shot attempt off.
 
After beginning the second half tied at 33-33, the Panthers crept ahead 38-37 on Jamal Pullen's layup at the 15:48 mark before MU used a 12-4 to gain a 49-42 lead with just over eight minutes to play. Desmond Parker started the run with a jumper, Mike Major added a layup, and Parker made good on a pair of free-throw attempts for a 43-38 lead with 13:14 on the clock. T.J. Gill capped the run with a triple that made it 49-42 in favor of MU with 8:07 to play.
 
Ferrum cut its deficit to two points (52-50) on a free throw by Speas with 4:51 to play, but Gill hit another three pointer, this time capping a 7-2 run, that gave MU a 59-52 lead with just 1:43 to play. Pullen answered Gill's triple with a dunk to make it a five-point game (56-54), and D'Andre Mullen's free throws with 1:19 to play pulled FC to within three (59-56).
 
Blake Davis put the Monarchs back up five (61-56) with a pair of free throws at the 1:10 mark, but the Panthers used a free throw by Alek Ayer, and a jumper by Speas to creep within two points (61-59) as the clock went below one minute remaining.
 
Methodist shot 42.9 percent (21-49) from the field and hit on 4-of-9 three-point attempts, but the Monarchs could convert just 15-of-24 free throws (.625) and were outrebounded, 38-26. Ferrum check in at 47.8 percent shooting (22-46), did not hit any of its three three-point attempts, and shot 58.1 percent from the line (18-31).
 
Blake Davis led the Monarchs with a career-high 12 points, and Gill added 11. Major contributed 10 points and a team-best seven rebounds. Tabias Hilliard and Parker had nine and eight points, respectively.
 
For the Panthers, Pullen scored 15 points and grabbed nine rebounds. Speas finished with 14 points and Ayer had 12 points. Both Speas and Ayer pulled down six boards, and Christian added nine points and six rebounds.
 
The Monarchs will now await word on their seeding and opponent for the first round of the USA South Tournament set to begin on Feb. 26. All men's basketball tournament games will be played at Averett University.