FAYETTEVILLE, N.C.  Despite Garren Dearman and Dante Burden being the first pair of Monarch teammates to score at least 20 points in the same game this season, Methodist was upset by visiting Pfeiffer University, 97-91 in USA South Conference action on Tuesday evening.

The Falcons made 12-of-20 shots (60 percent) from behind the arc in the first half to give themselves a 17-point lead entering the halftime break. The Monarchs were able to cut the deficit to four points with less than eight minutes remaining and, later, down to five points with six minutes remaining but Kyle Riddley knocked down 25 points, including 17 straight, for the Falcons in the second half to stave off the Methodist rally.

The game was played at a blitzing pace as the teams combined for 188 points in regulation, the most in a game played by Methodist this season. 91 points marked a season-high for the Monarchs, topping 85 points in the earlier game this season against Pfeiffer, and 97 points was the second-most allowed by Methodist this year.

THE ESSENTIALS
Final score: Pfeiffer def. Methodist, 97-91
Records: Methodist 7-8 (5-2 USA South), Pfeiffer 5-6 (1-4 USA South)
Location: Riddle Center; Fayetteville, N.C.
GAME NOTE: At halftime, the 2018 Monarch baseball team was honored for their 2018 USA South regular season conference championship last spring.

HOW IT HAPPENED

• Kaymon Mitchell forced the steal and Kevin McLaughlin Jr. answered with a three-point play, the layup and the and-one to breathe life into Methodist only being down by four points. The Monarchs used a 20-6 run at the start of the second half to cut a 61-43 deficit into 67-63. Burden had nine of Methodist's 20 as the Monarchs forced six turnovers in the four-and-a-half-minute stretch.
• The Methodist offense woke up in the second half, outscoring Pfeiffer, 53-42. The Monarchs converted 14 second-half turnovers into 21 points and actually outpaced the Falcons in fastbreak points, 23-18. Even on the boards, Methodist has the advantage with turning 17 offensive rebounds into 17 second chance points for the entire game.
• The Falcons went on a mini 7-0 run late in the second half to return it to a double-digit lead at 88-78.
• Despite Pfeiffer shooting 13-of-23 from the free-throw line in the second half, the Falcons went five-of-six from the charity stripe in the final 1:09 to ensure that there would be no Methodist heroics.
• After a very quiet first half, Pfeiffer's leading scorer played like a man possessed in the second half. In an eight-minute span, Riddley was the only Falcon to score for his team. He scored 17 consecutive points for Pfeiffer, most of the buckets coming unassisted. He single handedly nursed a four-point lead back to a sizeable nine-point lead at 78-69.
• After Riddley took the lead back up to nine, Malik Edwards hit a three and Burden came up with the steal and the bucket to force the game down to 78-74. Riddley found Hank Conner for the three-pointer that served as a dagger on the very next Pfeiffer possession.
• McLaughlin Jr. made his only three-pointer of the night with three seconds left for the final score of 97-91.
• Simmons opened the game with a three on an assist from Gabe Miller that set the tone for the rest of the night. The Falcons never trailed and led by as much as 22 points in the first half.

STAT FACTS

• This was Burden's fourth game and second straight of scoring at least 20 points. He also added four rebounds and four steals.
• Dearman topped 20 points for the third time this season. He was a rebound shy of his first double-double.
• Three other Monarchs scored in double figures starting with Kaymon Mitchell's 15 points and seven boards. Malik Edwards scored 12 points in his second start of the season and Kevin McLaughlin Jr. set career-highs in points (12) and rebounds (six).

FALCONS' LOOK

• Simmons had 20 of his 26 points in the first half as he made six-of-nine treys. In the second half, it was Riddley's turn as he scored 25 of his 30 points in the period. Riddley also had seven boards.
• Josiah Avington added 13 points with three treys and Craig Sabb had a double-double with ten points and ten boards, along with four assists.

UP NEXT

• Methodist is on the road after three consecutive home games. They will travel to Lookout Mountain, Georgia, to play Covenant on Friday at 7:30 p.m.
• Pfeiffer travels to play Brevard at 7:30 p.m. Friday.