BREVARD, N.C.  Completing the back half of a two-road-game weekend, the Methodist men's basketball team faced a high-powered offense on Sunday in the form of the Brevard Tornados. While the Monarchs put four scorers in double figures, the Tornados spread the wealth (exhibited by their 21 assists) as they defeated Methodist, 91-79.

JUST THE FACTS
Final score: Brevard def. Methodist, 91-79
Records: Methodist 3-11 (1-3 USA South), Brevard 8-8 (3-2 USA South)
Location: Boshamer Gymnasium; Brevard, North Carolina

HOW IT HAPPENED

• With offensive struggles to start the game, the Monarchs missed their first four shot attempts while watching the Torandos sink two three-pointers as part of an 8-0 run. Brevard magically maintained that success from behind the arc on its next three offensive possessions, quickly amassing a 17-6 lead while having shot 5-for-8 from deep in the game's first five and a half minutes.
• With just over nine minutes left in the half, Caleb Barreto provided a spark off the bench, playing through contact to make a layup, then draining the ensuing free throw. Layups by Ron Jones and Malek Ngong extended Methodist's scoring run to seven consecutive points and brought the Monarchs to within four (26-22).
• Continuing to find ways to score, Methodist took its first lead of the game with under three minutes to go in the period as Derrion Hicklen drove through the lane for a layup – giving him 10 points on the contest. The Tornados answered with two baskets of their own but Brone Brinson knocked down a triple with one minute to go. Brevard responded once more with two scores to take a four-point lead into halftime, but what felt like a game dominated by the home team early on now seemed like a game the Monarchs were back into.
• After a miss on one end by the Tornados followed by a Methodist turnover, Brevard's Charlie Hester broke free for a two-handed slam to start the second half. Methodist fought back to cut the deficit down to one point, but a 10-2 run in favor of Brevard put the Tornados out in front by nine (56-47 with 14:53 left to play).
• With 8:40 to play, Zac Sledge found an open Ron Jones, who hit his second three-pointer of the game to make the score 64-58. Wasting no time, Brevard answered with threes on back-to-back possessions, followed by two free throws, followed by a rim rattling dunk by Sly White. His hanging on the rim led to a Monarch free throw, which sparked an 8-0 Methodist run, giving the Monarchs one final gasp as they trailed 74-66 with five minutes left. The Tornados would not be overcome, hitting from deep on their next two scores to retake a double-digit lead that would be enough to carry them to a 91-79 finish.

MORE TO IT

• 79 points is the second-most points scored by the Monarchs this season (Methodist scored 83 in its win over Warren Wilson on Nov. 18). At the same time, 91 points is tied for the second-most points conceded by the Monarchs this season.
• Freshman Ron Jones contributed a season-high 29 minutes off the bench, finishing as Methodist's second-leading scorer with a season-high 18 points. Freshman Caleb Barreto played a season-high 17 minutes and scored the first points of his collegiate career.
• The Monarchs didn't lack offense as they exhibited improvement from Saturday at driving to the basket and getting to the free-throw line. Simultaneously, Brevard's ball movement was capable of exposing Methodist's defense, which allowed the Tornados open looks on numerous possessions.

UP NEXT
The Monarchs will travel to Raleigh on Wednesday to take on William Peace at 7 p.m. Methodist won the first bout between these two teams this season on Jan. 3 in a 71-70 nail-biter in Fayetteville.