FAYETTEVILLE, N.C. -- Mike Major erupted for a career-high 28 points and the Methodist men's basketball team defeated Ferrum, 72-67, on Saturday evening at the Riddle Center.
 
Major shot 10-of-14 from the floor, added a career-best 13 rebounds, and tied a career-high with six steals as the Monarchs rallied from a three-point deficit at the half to win for the second consecutive game and fourth time in the last five outings.
 
Jamal Pullen gave the Panthers (7-14, 2-8 USA South) a five point lead at the 16:22 mark of the second half (45-40) before Methodist (10-11, 5-5 USA South) came roaring back with a 16-4 run to assume a 56-49 lead with 10:48 on the clock. Desmond Parker started the run with a putback, and Jackson Whitley pulled MU within a point (45-44) with a pair of free throws. T.J. Gill's three pointer off a feed from Major, and a Brandon Monk layup staked the Monarchs to a 49-46 lead by the 14:10 mark.
 
Monk added a pair of free throws before Major converted a pair of buckets around a free throw by Tabias Hilliard to put the Green and Gold on top, 56-49. The Panthers answered with a spurt of their own and retook the lead, 63-60, with 6:06 to play.
 
Parker pulled MU even, 64-64, with a jumper at the 3:38 mark, and Major gave the Monarchs a 66-64 lead with a short jump shot with 2:55 on the clock. Pullen pushed Ferrum back into the lead with a three-point play on the ensuing possession, but following a timeout, Monk gave MU the lead for good with a jumper and Major knocked down 4-of-4 free  throws in the final minute to seal the win.
 
Ferrum led by as many as nine points in the first half (28-19), but Methodist closed the first half on a 14-8 run, including seven points from Major, to pull within three at the break.
 
Methodist shot 51.9 percent from the floor (27-52) and 82.5 percent from the line (14-17) and out rebounded the Panthers, 33-28. Ferrum shot 42.9 percent for the game (21-49) and 69.0 percent (20-29) from the charity stripe.
 
In addition to Major's career night, Hilliard added 12 points and Monk had 11 points. Parker corralled a team-best five rebounds, and Whitley had a pair of blocked shots.
 
Pullen finished with 20 points and seven rebounds to lead FC. Marcus Huff had 14 points, and Rashawn Speas chimed in with 12 points. Josh Dudley handed out five assists.
 
The Monarchs play their final regular season home game on Wednesday when they host William Peace at 5:30 pm.