FAYETTEVILLE, N.C. -- Tabias Hilliard scored a game-high 20 points on 8-of-9 shooting, but the Ferrum men's basketball team held off the Monarchs, 66-57, on Wednesday evening at the Riddle Center.
 
The Monarchs (4-9) shot 46.8 percent (22-47) as a team compared to 40.0 percent (24-60) for the Panthers (7-4), while hitting on 10-of-14 free-throw attempts to FC's 13-of-27 effort from the line, but U turned the ball over 17 times to just seven giveaways for the Panthers.
 
A closely-played first half turned into a double-digit lead at the break for the Panthers (36-22) thanks to a late 12-4 run. Steven Jones and Alek Ayer each drilled triples for Ferrum in the final two-and-a-half minutes, and Rashawn Speas added a pair of layups as Ferrum built its lead.
 
In the second half, a jumper by MU's Troynell Reese trimmed the Monarchs' deficit to just five points (45-40) with under 11 minutes to play. However, the Panthers used another 12-4 spurt to stretch their lead to 57-44 on D'Andre Mulllen's jumper with 6:05 on the clock.
 
Methodist got as close as seven points in the final five minutes, but Ferrum was able to answer every run from MU.
 
In addition to Hilliard's 20 points, Davion Ayabarreno added 11 points on 5-of-8 shooting, and Jackson Whitley had six points, 11 boards and six blocks.
 
Speas led the Panthers with 15 points, and Ayer and Josh Dudley scored 10 points apiece. KeAndre' Robinson pull down a game-high 12 rebounds, and Speas and Grimard each had six rebounds.
 
Methodist is back in action on Wednesday at Greensboro beginning at 7:30 pm.