FAYETTEVILLE, N.C.  Methodist upset the top-seeded team in the East Division Saturday afternoon with its 83-73 USA South Conference victory over N.C. Wesleyan on Senior Day in Riddle Center.

Even though the Monarchs were firmly entrenched in the second seed and the Battling Bishops had already clinched the top-seed for the USA Conference Tournament, this game still represents a huge statement win before the tournament. Despite the game having eight lead changes and four ties, Methodist led for more than 31 minutes in the game.

Methodist shot over 43 percent from behind the arc, going 10-of-23. The 10 makes and the 43.5 percent makes this the Monarchs' second-best shooting performance from downtown this season. Garren Dearman led Methodist with 21 points and four-of-eight shooting on three-pointers.

THE ESSENTIALS
Final score: Methodist def. N.C. Wesleyan, 83-73
Records: Methodist 13-12 (11-6 USA South), N.C. Wesleyan 19-6 (12-5)
Location: Riddle Center; Fayetteville, N.C.

HOW IT HAPPENED

• With 10 minutes left to play and the Monarchs holding a slim 58-54 lead, Methodist delivered dagger after dagger in the form of a 9-2 run with Kevin McLaughlin Jr. connecting twice from deep and Dearman hitting another three-pointer.
• Down 47-43, the Monarchs went on a game-altering 10-0 run to take a 53-47 lead. The first three made baskets all came off fastbreaks as Methodist outpaced the Bishops in transition, 20-6 in the second half. Garren Dearman kickstarted the run with a trey and punctuated the run with a trey with Chris Pernell assisted on both shots.
• N.C. Wesleyan managed to pull within five with the score at 75-70 and a minute to play but the Monarchs went on a 8-3 run to cap the game, including Dante Burden going four-of-five from the charity stripe in the final minute.
• The Bishops started the second half on a 7-0 run to take a 42-40 advantage, their first lead since the score was 24-23.
• Pernell, the Monarchs' lone Senior on Senior Night set the tone for the good shooting night, opening with a three-pointer to start the game. Later in the first half, Pernell broke a 9-9 draw with a trey. Methodist held the slim lead for eight minutes until N.C. Wesleyan tied the game at 21.

STAT FACTS

• Burden dished a Monarch season-high nine assists to go with 17 points, seven boards, and two blocks. He was five-of-eight from the field.
• Dearman had a game-high 21 on seven-of-13 shooting. He also had five assists and six rebounds.
• In the second half is where Burden and Dearman really did their damage. The duo combined for 23 on the Monarchs' 43 second-half points. Burden had five boards and four assists in the final frame and Dearman shot three-of-five from deep in the second half.
• Kaymon Mitchell had 14 points and five rebounds.
• Pernell and McLaughlin Jr. were members of the three-point brigade, each scoring six points and shooting two-of-five from beyond the arc.
• Robert Wilson led the Battling Bishops with 18 points and five rebounds.
• The sharpshooting abilities of N.C. Wesleyan were nullified with the team going three-of-18 from downtown in the game. A team that normally shoots nearly 40 percent from long range was held to under 17 percent Saturday.

UP NEXT
Methodist is at home to take on either William Peace University or Averett University on Tuesday at 7:30 p.m. in the quarterfinals of the USA South Conference Tournament.