FAYETTEVILLE, N.C.  Methodist men's basketball versus visiting Covenant College lived up to its billing as the top teams in the East and West Divisions of the USA South Athletic Conference battled Friday evening in the Riddle Center, resulting in the host East Monarchs handing the West Scots their first loss in league action, 62-54.

The Monarchs showed championship-level chops and resolve, especially when they found themselves trailing 49-48 with 3:49 left remaining in the game. Kaymon Mitchell, who finished with a team-high 18 points, gathered Methodist out of the deficit with a layup to take a one-point lead and then a jumper to put Methodist up 52-49. Calvin Manley earned the assists on both of those pivotal baskets.

Despite six lead changes and the game being tied towards the end of the contest, Covenant led for less than a total of one minute in the game and never led by more than two points. Meanwhile, Methodist held the lead for over 32 minutes, with its largest lead (24-14) coming midway through the first half.

THE ESSENTIALS
Final score: Methodist def. Covenant, 62-54
Records: Methodist 10-5 (6-1 USA South); Covenant 9-5 (6-1)
Location: Riddle Center; Fayetteville, N.C.

HOW IT HAPPENED

• The difference in this game? Methodist masterfully avoided the mistakes that cost Covenant in this game. The Monarchs finished the game with only six turnovers. That is the best ball control from Methodist since a February game of 2017. The Scots committed 20 turnovers, including 13 in the final period, which resulted in a 20-2 advantage in points off of turnovers for the Monarchs. The Monarchs also owned a 22-7 edge in fastbreak points.
• The minute and a half stretch that Methodist needed to turn a 49-48 deficit into a 56-49 lead was the epitome of championship basketball. First, a raucous crowd encouraged by Dante Burden assisted in Mitchell Hollis missing two game-tying free throws. Besides the two clutch buckets from Mitchell, Garren Dearman and Kevin McLaughlin Jr. made key defensive plays that swung the momentum and ignited the crowd even more. 
• Dearman recorded two emphatic blocks on Covenant shot attempts while McLaughlin Jr. stole an inbounds pass, drew a foul, and made both of his free throws for the eventual dagger.
• With 4:34 left in the game, Chris Barnette tied the game at 48-all with a three-pointer. His one made free throw a minute later gave the Scots their final lead of the game. Previously, Barnette had tied the game at 45 following two made free throws.
• Covenant was trailing 40-35 after a jumper from Burden but Hollis drew a foul on a three-pointer and sank all three free throws to pull Covenant back into the game.
• Tied at 14-14, the Monarchs embarked on a 10-0 scoring run to give them their largest lead of the game. Burden had a big part in the run with four points, two steals, and an assist. However, the Scots did manage to fight back at the end of the first stanza to trail 32-29 into halftime.

STAT FACTS

• It was the big man trio of Manley, Mitchell, and Sam Mingledoff that kept the Monarchs afloat in the first half as they combined for 22 of the team's 32 points. Manley finished with 10 points, four rebounds, two assists, and two blocks, and Mingledoff had a final statline of eight points, five rebounds, and three assists.
• Burden finished with 12 points, plus team-high totals of seven assists, six rebounds, and four steals.
• McLaughlin Jr. led the bench unit with seven points, four rebounds, and two steals.
• Barnette led the Scots with 21 points and nine rebounds.

UP NEXT

• Now controlling their own destiny, the Monarchs will look to keep hold of the number one seed by defeating visiting Pfeiffer University, on Tuesday, January 21 at 7:30 p.m.
• It is a quick turnaround as Covenant will look to bounce back against host William Peace on Saturday, January 18 at 6 p.m.