FAYETTEVILLE, N.C.  Methodist could not engineer the comeback rally against visiting Averett University in an 86-62 defeat in USA South Athletic Conference men's basketball action on Saturday afternoon.

Kaymon Mitchell and Dante Burden combined for 29 of the Monarchs' 62 points but that was not enough as five Cougars scored in double-digits, including Isaiah Jones' game-high 21.

THE ESSENTIALS
Final score: Averett def. Methodist, 86-62
Records: Methodist 9-10 (7-4 USA South), Averett 4-15 (4-7)
Location: Riddle Center; Fayetteville, N.C.

HOW IT HAPPENED

• Ultimately, the 47-22 first half deficit proved to be insurmountable for the Monarchs. Averett ended the half on a 20-4 run and led by as many as 29 points before Methodist eventually whittled that deficit down to 17 points.
• The Cougars were firing on all cylinders in the first half. Vince Contreras and Isiah Jones combined for 27 points on only 15 shots in the first frame. As a team, Averett shot 56 percent from the field and 60 percent from three, knocking down six long bombs for the half.
• The Cougars kickstarted the game with a 8-2 run before a Burden three-pointer and a Mitchell basket made it 8-7. From that point on in the half, Averett completed runs after runs. The Cougars ignited for runs of 6-0, 7-0, 7-0, and 8-0 in between Monarch baskets.
• The odds of winning are in your favor when you can shoot 57 percent from the field like the Cougars did. Averett connected on 32-of-56 field goals along with 16-of-25 (64 percent) free throws.
• For the Monarchs, Mitchell had 10 of the team's 22 points in the first half.
• In the second half, Methodist actually outscored Averett, 40-39. Methodist shot 41 percent from the field (12-of-29) and made 15-of-23 free throws. The Monarchs even strung together a 6-0 run early on the second frame. Kevin McLaughlin Jr, Malik Edwards, and John Baker provided 18 points as reserves for the Monarchs in the final half.
• McLaughlin Jr.'s basket with just under six minutes remaining made the game 66-47, cutting the deficit to under 20 points for the first time since the score was 38-20. The steal and the layup by Burden cut the lead down to 17 points, the smallest deficit the Monarchs would see in the second half.

STAT FACTS

• Even with the conference loss, the Monarchs are still firmly in second place of the USA South East Division. With six conference games left on the schedule before the tournament, Methodist is two and a half games up on third-place William Peace. Not including the fact that the Monarchs owns the tiebreaker after completing a sweep over the Pacers.
• With 14 points and five assists, Burden logged his sixth consecutive double-digit scoring game. This was Mitchell's fifth consecutive double-digit scoring game. Mitchell also had four rebounds, two steals, a block, and an assist.
• Garren Dearman mitigated his off shooting day (one-of-six for the field) with six boards and a block.

COUGARS' PEEK

• Jones led the way with 21 points, five boards, and two steals. Jones was eight-of-14 from the field and he made three shots behind the arc, as well.
• Timothy Henry and Vince Contreras each scored 16 points. Henry had five rebounds and five assists and Contreras added six rebounds and three assists.
• Raymond Bullock III and Montre' Cash finished with an identical statline of 12 points and six boards. Cash also had a team-high six assists.

UP NEXT

• On Tuesday, Methodist travels to Rocky Mount, N.C. to play N.C. Wesleyan at 7:30 p.m.
• The next game for Averett is on Wednesday when they are on the road to play Greensboro at 5:30 p.m.