GREENSBORO, N.C. -- Jackson Whitley forced overtime with a three-point play in the final eight seconds of regulation, then lifted the Methodist men's basketball team to a 100-99 overtime win over Greensboro with two free throws in the final 0.3 seconds on Monday evening.
 
Whitley's two clutch plays helped MU (16-7, 11-4 USA South) snap a three-game skid and complete a season sweep of the Pride (9-14, 4-10). He finished with a double-double of 22 points and 16 rebounds to go with five assists and three blocked shots. Bryan Rouse led the Monarchs with a game-high 33 points, including 22 in the first half, and Troynell Reese added 23 points.
 
Greensboro looked poised to pick up the win, holding a 91-88 win with 26 seconds to play. Rouse missed a potential game-tying layup with under 10 seconds to play, but Whitley was there for the rebound and putback while absorbing a foul from Cornelius Johnson. Whitley calmly sank the tying charity toss and Greensboro was unable to get a shot off in the final eight seconds.
 
The Pride quickly went up 95-91 in the extra session on a pair of free throws from Johnson and a layup from Joseph Gatling at the 3:41 mark. Rae Hall got MU's first bucket of OT with a layup at the 2:37 mark to make it 95-93, but Gatling answered with another bucket of his own to restore a four-point edge (97-93) with just over two minutes to play.
 
After Reese had a dunk attempt blocked at the other end, Whitley came up with his 15th rebound and kicked out to Rouse for a long three that pulled MU within 97-96 with 1:39 to play.
 
With under 20 seconds to play, a defensive rebound by Hall led to a quick dunk in transition by Reese that gave MU a 98-97 lead and 16 seconds to play. On Greensboro's next trip down the floor, Johnson drew a foul with six seconds on the clock and hit two free throws of his own to push GC in front 99-98.
 
Methodist quickly advanced the ball across midcourt and called timeout with 2.8 seconds on the clock. The inbounds pass went to Whitley on the right baseline and he was fouled on his shot attempt just before the final buzzer sounded.
 
A nearly 80.0 percent shooter from the stripe on the season, Whitley, who was 10 for 11 from the line in the game, knocked down the tying and go-ahead shots to seal the win.
 
As a team, MU shot 47.1 percent (33-70) as a team, and 9 of 22 (.409) from long range. The Green & Gold also got to the free throw line 29 times, converting on 25 attempts (.862). The Pride shot 55.4 percent (36-65) as a team, but made just 18 of 27 free throw attempts (.667).
 
Gatling led four GC players in double figures with 27 points on 11 of 15 shooting. Darus Maddox and Johnson each scored 21 points. Gatling also had eight boards and four assists.
 
Methodist is at Pfeiffer on Wednesday beginning at 7:30 pm.