FAYETTEVILLE, N.C. Methodist men's basketball hosted Southern Virginia University on Thursday for a USA South Athletic Conference match-up, but came up short in the end, losing 73-62 inside the March F. Riddle Center.

JUST THE FACTS
Final score: Southern Virginia def. Methodist, 73-62
Records: Methodist 1-19 (0-10 USA South), Southern Virginia 12-9 (6-4)
Location: March F. Riddle Center; Fayetteville, North Carolina

HOW IT HAPPENED

• The Knights kicked off the game by draining a three-pointer on the wing. On the Monarchs first possession, James Wilds III scored Methodist's first basket from an offensive put back. Clayton Coe tied the game at seven all five minutes into the game with a mid-range jumper before Southern Virginia went go on a 5-0 run.
• The Monarchs trailed for the remainder of the first half, with the largest deficit extending to 16 at the three-minute mark. Methodist found ice in their veins, scoring five straight baskets to go on a 12-0 run, cutting the Knights lead to four. Dante Burden's turn around three at the buzzer counted to make it 38-34 at the end of the first half.
• Southern Virginia remained ahead early in the second half. Kevin McLaughlin Jr. found Coe for two, cutting the Knights lead to two to make it 46-44 five minutes into play. Southern Virginia went on another run, and advanced the lead back up to 11.
• The Monarchs trailed by 16 mid-way through the second half, for the second time during the game. Methodist was not giving up without a fight, as they turned up the full court pressure to try to get some quick turnovers. Coe went to the line for two, knocking down one to make it 69-62 with one minute and 40 seconds left in the game. The Monarchs was unable to get a bucket to fall in the final minute, and came up short, 73-62 to the Knights.   

MORE TO IT

• Burden tallied his first double-double this season and third of his career, scoring 18 points and 10 rebounds. Coe lead the team with 20 points, making that his second 20 point game this season.
• The Monarchs scored 18 points off turnovers to Southern Virginia's nine.
• The Knights shot 18 for 24 from the line, shooting 75% to Methodist's eight for 14, for a 57.1 shooting percentage.

 UP NEXT

• Methodist stays in Fayetteville on Saturday as they take on Mary Baldwin University for a USA South match-up, in the 16th annual Play 4Kay game, at 4 p.m.
• Southern Virginia remains on the road as the travel to North Carolina Wesleyan College on Saturday for a USA South match-up at 4 p.m.