FAYETTEVILLE, N.C. -- In a matchup of the USA South East Division's two top teams, N.C. Wesleyan prevailed in overtime, 93-84, over the Methodist men's basketball team on Wednesday evening at the March F. Riddle Center.
 
In a game eerily similar to the first meeting between the two teams, a 98-91 OT win for MU on NCWC's home court, the Battling Bishops exacted a measure of revenge and took sole possession of first place in the division. The Monarchs now stand at 15-6 on the season and 10-3 in league play, while the Bishops are now 13-9 overall and 11-3 in the conference.
 
Methodist held a six-point lead (75-69) with 2:26 to play, but NCWC closed regulation on a 12-6 run and the Monarchs needed a layup from Rae Hall with under 10 seconds to play to force the extra frame. Methodist missed four straight shots in the last two minutes as the Bishops mounted their rally. A Chris Braswell layup, followed by a pair of Adrian Moore free throws, pulled NCWC to within 75-73 by the 2:00 minute mark. Davion Ayabarreno knocked down a pair of free throws for MU, but a jumper from Robert Wilson and another layup by Braswell tied the game at 77-77 with 1:17 to play.
 
Ayabarreno came up empty on a jumper in the final minute and that led to two more free throws by Moore with 39 seconds to play that gave the Bishops their first lead since early in the second half. After a missed shot by MU went out of bounds off NCWC with 25 seconds to play, Rae Hall got in the lane in the final 10 seconds and converted a layup in traffic to knot the game at 79-79. Bryan Rouse then blocked Braswell's potential game-winning trey as time expired.
 
In the extra frame, Moore opened the scoring with two more free throws and Robert Wilson followed with a clutch three pointer for an 84-79 lead with four minutes to play. Jackson Whitley split a pair of free throws to make it 84-80, but the Monarchs missed their first 10 shots of the extra period as the Bishops held on for the win.
 
In a back-and-forth contest that featured eight ties and 11 lead changes, MU shot 38.2 percent (29-76) from the floor, but 83.3 percent (20-24) from the line. NCWC countered with 44.2 percent (34-77) shooting as a team and held a 48-43 edge on the glass. Methodist committed 13 turnovers to 12 for the Bishops and each team handed out 13 assists.
 
Ayabarreno led MU with 22 points, and Hall added 19 points, five assists and five rebounds. Whitley collected a double-double of 12 points and 13 rebounds, and Bryan Rouse added 12 points but shot just 3 of 17.
 
Moore led all scorers with 33 points on 11 of 21 shooting from the floor and a 10 of 11 effort from the line. He also had nine rebounds, four assists and three steals. Wilson added 22 points and nine rebounds, Braswell scored 13 points with six assists and A.J. Frye chipped in 12 points and five boards.
 
Methodist plays at William Peace on Saturday beginning at 2 pm.