FAYETTEVILLE, N.C.  Behind Dante Burden's 24 points, the Monarchs defeated conference opponent Piedmont College, 75-69 in the Riddle Center Sunday afternoon. Methodist is off to an impressive start in the USA South, with a 5-1 record in conference play.

With this win, the Monarchs have won three straight to improve to 7-7 overall, their first three-game winning streak since mid-January of last season.

This game featured 16 lead changes and seven tie scores but Methodist led for most of the game, including the final seven minutes.

The difference in this game could be attributed to how each team faired from the charity stripe.

The Monarchs were 16-of-22 while the Lions were an abysmal 9-of-22 from the line, or about 41 percent. Those missed opportunities make a difference in a six-point game. That also explains why, despite Piedmont outrebounding Methodist and outscoring the Monarchs in points off turnovers, second chance, and bench points, the Lions were unable to come away with their first victory of the season.

THE ESSENTIALS
Final score: Methodist def. Piedmont, 75-69
Records: Methodist 7-7 (5-1 USA South), Brevard 0-13 (0-7)
Location: Riddle Center; Fayetteville, N.C.

HOW IT HAPPENED

• After Burden set Methodist up with a nine point lead with under five minutes remaining, Piedmont was unable to cut the deficit to under four points. Justin Quick's bucket made it 65-60 with two minutes left. On the next possession, Riley Miles forced the strip of Burden and the foul but he missed the first free throw of a one-and-one. Garren Dearman made the bucket on the other end that turned a possible one-possession game into a seven point, 67-60 lead.
• Will Richter got the steal and the bucket, cutting the lead to four with the score at 71-67 under 30 seconds. Sam Mingledoff making both of his free throws after being intentionally fouled was a damper for the Lions.
• With the score at 73-67, Will Richter was fouled with less than four seconds left and was sent to the charity stripe to shoot three from the free throw. Richter made two-of-three but again Mingledoff made both of his free throws to stymie a potential Piedmont buzzer beater.
• After Cole Huskey made both of his free throws following a steal to give Piedmont a 54-53 lead with nine minutes left, Methodist scored the next 10 points with Burden scoring eight straight points by himself to take command of the game.
• The Lions got their first lead of the second half with about ten minutes remaining. Marquise Lanier came up with the strip that set up a Michael Joseph layup for the 52-51 score. Chris Pernell responded with a layup of his own on the very next possession for the Monarchs.
• It was a very tight first half with neither team seizing control until Piedmont went on a 9-0 run to give it a 28-20 lead. Steve Andrew hit a three to disrupt the Lions momentum as the Monarchs went on a run of their own (10-2) to tie the game at 30. Methodist was able to take a four-point, 38-34 lead into halftime thanks to Burden and Garren Dearman scoring the last 10 points of the half for the Monarchs.

STAT FACTS

• This was Burden's third game topping 20 points this season and 10th game of scoring in double digits. He also had six rebounds and four steals while shooting 9-of-15 from the field.
• Dearman was the only other Monarch to score in double digits as he had 16 points to go with four rebounds, four assists, and three steals.
• J'Quan Deal had a team-high seven rebounds, including three offensive boards. Malik Edwards was a tone-setter off the bench as he provided Methodist was seven points, four rebounds, and three assists while managing to not turn the ball over even once.

LIONS' LOOK

• Michael Joseph registered a double-double with 18 points and 10 boards. Miles Riley had 10 points, four rebounds and four steals and Huskey had 12 points.
• After making four treys and shooting 50 percent from behind the arc in the first half, Piedmont went cold in the second, shooting 2-of-12 from three.

UP NEXT

• Methodist takes on USA South conference opponent Pfeiffer Tuesday at home in the Riddle Center at 7:30 p.m. The Monarchs previously defeated the Falcons 85-77 in Misenheimer on November 28.
• Piedmont returns home to play conference foe William Peace Friday at 7 p.m.