FAYETTEVILLE, N.C.  Methodist University men's basketball started its 2023-24 season on Wednesday night, as the team hosted Guilford College in a non-conference contest. Capitalizing on the Monarch turnovers, the Quakers left the March F. Riddle Center with a 74-59 victory.

JUST THE FACTS
Final score: Guilford def. Methodist, 74-59
Records: Methodist 0-1, Guilford 1-0
Location: March F. Riddle Center; Fayetteville, North Carolina

HOW IT HAPPENED

• Guilford scored the first six points of the game before Derrion Hicklen got Methodist on the board with a three ball. Even though a Gabe Proctor three-pointer gave the Quakers a six-point lead, the Monarchs stayed within that two-possession difference in the opening seven minutes of the first half. With 13 minutes left, a three-pointer by Rob Littlejohn sparked a 9-0 run for Guilford, which made the score 24-12.
• Getting six of those points back for Methodist was De'Shaun Kee following back-to-back threes. A seven-point swing by the Quakers extended their advantage to a 17-point deficit, 36-19. In the final three minutes, the Monarchs were able to outscore, 9-5, Guilford to find themselves down by 13 heading into the break.
• The two teams began the second half matching point for point as two Tyler Dearman threes were answered back by Hicklen, who knocked down three free throws after being fouled, and Joey McMullin, a three-pointer. Guilford was able to extend its lead to 18 points, 55-37, but at the cost of getting into foul trouble, which allowed the Monarchs to score four of their next six points at the charity stripe.
• A couple of made baskets by Julius Burch pushed the Quakers back up to a 17-point advantage a few minutes later. With six and half minutes left on clock, Tomas Stevens made a three ball to keep Methodist within 15 points of Guilford's lead, 66-51. That was the best the Monarchs got to closing the gap as the Quakers iced the game with a few more made shots.

MORE TO IT

• Guilford was led by Dearman, who had a double-double, with 21 points and 11 steals. Littlejohn just came up one rebound shy for his own double-double, 13 pts & nine boards.
• Hicklen posted a team-high 16 points for Methodist while grabbing five rebounds.
• A number of new Monarch faces saw some quality minutes. This includes freshman Aaron Potter, eight points in 19 minutes, and transfers McMullin (seven pts in 22 minutes) and Zac Sledge (five pts in 24 minutes).

UP NEXT
Methodist will host another home game on Saturday, November 11, as Johnson & Wales University of Charlotte pays a visit to the March F. Riddle Center. The opening tip is scheduled for 2 PM.