RALEIGH, N.C.  After taking a two-point lead just before halftime, the Methodist men's basketball was unable to stay out in front on Wednesday night, suffering defeat at the hands of the William Peace Pacers. The Monarchs dropped the contest 82-62, falling to 1-4 in USA South play.

JUST THE FACTS
Final score: William Peace def. Methodist, 82-62
Records: Methodist 3-12 (1-4 USA South), William Peace 8-8 (3-2 USA South)
Location: Hermann Gymnasium; Raleigh, North Carolina

HOW IT HAPPENED

• The Monarch offense ran through Derrion Hicklen and Zac Sledge to start the game as the duo scored the team's first 14 points (10 for Hicklen and four for Sledge). With the teams tied at 14-14 with 13:36 remaining in the first half, William Peace produced a 9-3 scoring run. Methodist's three points during that span were all free throws contributed by Brone Brinson.
• Hicklen scored Methodist's next seven points, bringing the Monarchs back within three. Aaron Potter hit the team's first three-pointer of the game to get Methodist within two, and his shot was followed by a Sledge jumper that tied the game at 29-29 with under four minutes left in the half.
• Shooting 2-for-2 on his trip to the free-throw line, Caleb Barreto gave the Monarchs a two-point advantage inside the final two minutes of the period. The Pacers responded with a two-point basket of their own to retie the score, but as time dwindled off the clock, a steal by Ron Jones – who found Derrion Hicklen for a layup – led to Methodist taking a 33-31 lead into the break.
• The momentum shown by the Monarchs in the waning minutes of the first half did not carry over into the second half. With Methodist scoring just eight points in the first 11 minutes of the period, the Pacers soon reached a 20-point lead after a 33-11 run. The Monarchs cut the deficit to 13 but ultimately fell by 20 points as each team scored exactly 18 points over the final eight minutes.

MORE TO IT

• Posting 16 points and 10 rebounds, Zac Sledge recorded his third double-double of the season. He made seven of nine shots from the field and went a perfect 2-for-2 at the free-throw line.
• Also perfect at the free-throw line (7-for-7), Derrion Hicklen led all scorers with 23 points. It's his third 20-point performance in the last four games.
• The Monarchs were out-rebounded (44-32) and outdone from behind the arc (William Peace sank 12 three-pointers to Methodist's one).

UP NEXT
The Monarchs return to Fayetteville for the first time in two weeks, hosting Southern Virginia on Saturday at 4 p.m.