RALEIGH, N.C. -- ­­­­The Methodist men's basketball team rallied failed to complete a second-half rally in dropping an 83-74 decision at William Peace on Saturday afternoon in the Hermann Athletic Center.
 
Davion Ayabarreno's double-double of 26 points and 13 rebounds was not enough for the Monarchs (15-7, 10-4 USA South), who have now dropped three straight. William Peace improved to 6-16 on the season and 4-9 in league play.
 
After playing to a 37-37 tie through the first 40 minutes, a Jackson Whitley layup gave MU a 39-37 lead early in the second half. The Pacers responded with back-to-back triples from Camden Ferguson and began to pull away from the Green & Gold.
 
William Peace's lead reached double figures (54-44) on a trey by Smith Gupton by the 12:05 mark, and with 8:52 to play, WPU led 64-50 courtesy a jumper from Sam Arnold.
 
Facing a 14-point deficit, the Monarchs kicked their offense into high gear and rattled off a 21-5 scoring burst to take a 71-69 lead with five minutes to play. J'Quan Deal started the run with a pair of free throws and Whitley followed a trey. A tip-in from Bryan Rouse cut the deficit to single digits (66-57).
 
Four straight points from Garren Dearman pulled MU to within 67-61 with 6:25 showing on the clock, and Ayabarreno muscled in a layup while getting fouled and completed the three-point play for a 67-64 score. A pair of charity tosses by WPU's Trey Bryant put the score at 69-64, but another three-point play by Ayabarreno and four straight points from Rouse pushed MU into the lead at 71-69.
 
The Pacers, however, closed out the game on a 14-3 run to pull out the win. Methodist shot just 1 of 6 with three turnovers over the final five minutes.
 
As a team, MU shot just 39.4 percent (28-71) from the floor, but a perfect 11 for 11 from the free throw line. William Peace was 41.4 percent (29-70) as a team, and knocked down 13 of 40 three-point attempts (.325). Each team turned it over 12 times and WPU enjoyed 45-38 edge in rebounding.
 
In addition to Ayabarreno, Dearman scored 11 points with three steals, and Dante Jackson and Whitley each scored nine. Jackson added six assists, and Whitley pulled down seven boards.
 
Bryant led five Pacers in double figures with 20 points, and Gupton added 17. Ferguson (15), Arnold (11) and Mikal Gaylord (11) all reached double figures as well. Bryant also had a team-high seven rebounds to go with three steals, and Gupton and Tyson Sellers each handed out four assists.
 
Methodist is at Greensboro on Monday evening at 7:30 pm.