FAYETTEVILLE, N.C. -- Rae Hall sank a pair of free throws with nine seconds to play in overtime to lift the Methodist men's basketball team to a 81-79 victory over Ferrum on Sunday afternoon at the March F. Riddle Center.
 
Hall's free throws in OT came after MU (11-7, 5-2 USA South) had forced the extra session on a dunk by Jackson Whitley with 12 seconds left in regulation that tied the game at 71-71. Ferr.um (9-9, 4-3) had a chance to win in regulation but was unable to get a shot off.
 
In overtime, Hall opened the scoring with a pair of free throws for a 73-71 lead before Marcus Huff tied things at 73-73 with a layup. The Panthers took a 75-73 lead on a pair of free throws by Josh Dudley with 3:31 to play, but Bryan Rouse countered for MU with a pull up jumper to tie it at 75-75 at the 3:20 mark.
 
A pair of buckets by Davion Ayabarreno pushed MU's lead to 79-76 with 1:59 to play, but FC's D'Andre Mullen counted with a three-point play with 1:15 to play that knotted the game at 79-79. Ferrum's Josh Grimard missed a potential go-ahead three with 35 seconds left to play, and after Ayabarreno secured the rebound, Hall got into the lane and drew contact to get to the line.
 
The Panthers were unable to get a shot off on their final possession as Ayabarreno was able to knock the ball away from Grimard on the game's final play.
 
In all, the game featured 15 lead changes and 11 ties as neither team led by more than seven points.
 
The Monarchs shot 47.6 percent (30-63) from the field and held the Panthers to 40.0 percent (26-65) shooting. Ferrum was 7 of 23 from long range (.304) to just 2 of 15 (.133) for the Monarchs. MU was also 19 of 22 at the line (.864), including Hall who went 9 for 9. The Green and Gold out rebounded Ferrum, 47-27, though the Panthers committed just four turnovers to 14 for the Monarchs.
 
Ayabarreno led all scorers with 26 points on 10 of 17 shooting. Whitley recorded his 10th double-double of the season with 19 points and 14 rebounds. He added four blocks and four assists. Hall totaled 17 points and Bryan Rouse shipped in 13 points and seven boards. Blake Davis, who fed Whitley for the game-tying dunk at the end of regulation, added seven rebounds.
 
Grimard led the Panthers with 22 points and seven rebounds. He also contributed three assists and three steals. Josh Dudley had 21 points, Rashad Reed scored 17 off the bench and Huff added 10 points and five rebounds.
 
Methodist is back in action on Wednesday at N.C. Wesleyan beginning at 7:30 pm.