FAYETTEVILLE, N.C. In their first game of 2022, the Methodist men's basketball suffered an 81-56 home USA South Athletic Conference loss to Averett University Sunday afternoon in the March F. Riddle Center.
 
At the 17:11 mark of the second half, Dante Burden stole the ball from a Cougar player to give the Monarchs the ball back. With that steal, Burden became the program's All-Time leader in steals surpassing Erick Hunt, class of '92. For Burden's career he now has stolen the ball from opposing players 187 times.   

JUST THE FACTS
Final score: Averett def. Methodist, 81-56
Records: Methodist 1-11 (0-2 USA South), Averett 7-8 (4-1)
Location: March F. Riddle Center; Fayetteville, North Carolina

HOW IT HAPPENED

• Scoring the first seven points for Methodist was Burden, then Nehemiah McClain made the next basket, which was his first recorded points of his collegiate career, for 15-9 score in favor of Averett at the first media timeout. The next four Monarchs points were from Brone Brinson to get the team back within two possessions, 17-13.
• A 7-0 run in a two and half minute span saw the Cougars increase their advantage to double digits for the first time in the game. In the last 8:30 of the first half, a combination of buckets and free throws by Clayton Coe, Derrick Newberry, and Tomas Stevens helped keep Methodist in a reasonable 39-28 deficit.
• Averett came out firing in the second half by going on a 13-2 run to increase their lead to 52-30. A layup by Brinson gave the Monarchs their first basket of the half followed by jumper, with an and-one, by Kevin McLaughlin Jr. to make it 52-35.
• Getting into the boxscore was freshman Suwo Mavikdidze when he stripped the ball away from a Cougar player and then went on his own fast break to secure his first collegiate points with a layup. Burden would score the last four Methodist points on a layup and a pair of shots from the charity stripe.

MORE TO IT

• Burden had a game-high 20 points with Coe being the only other Monarch to reach double digit figures, 10 respectively. Corey Baldwin of Averett had a team-high 16 points.
• The Cougars not only possessed the ball more but also made more baskets than Methodist. This is shown in the team's field goals with Averett attempting 62 shots and converting 31 them. The Monarchs took 44 shots and only made 17 dropped through the basket.

UP NEXT

• Methodist begins a four game USA South road series on Tuesday starting with North Carolina Wesleyan College at 7:30 PM.
• Averett head back home for a USA South date with Pfeiffer University on Tuesday at 7 PM.