FAYETTEVILLE, N.C.  Despite playing a competitive game against Southern Virginia on Saturday, the Methodist men's basketball team was unable to capture a win against the Knights, falling 73-65. Playing from behind, the Monarchs tied the score twice but never possessed a lead during the eight-point defeat.

JUST THE FACTS
Final score: Southern Virginia def. Methodist, 73-65
Records: Methodist 3-13 (1-5 USA South), Southern Virginia 5-14 (2-5 USA South)
Location: March F. Riddle Center; Fayetteville, North Carolina

HOW IT HAPPENED

• Scoring on their first five possessions of the game, the Knights jumped out to a 10-2 lead. After a jumper by Derrion Hicklen, Southern Virginia scored twice more to go up by 10 points with 15 minute left in the period. A layup by Zac Sledge cut the difference to six (18-12) just before the 10-minute mark.
• SVU's DJ Green scored his team's next seven points to give the visitors a 25-15 lead. With his team trailing by 10, Methodist's Ron Jones knocked down a three-pointer to reduce the deficit to seven, then Hicklen and Brone Brinson scored back-to-back layups to pull the Monarchs within three. Following a two-point basket by the Knights, Chance Minott banked in a three-pointer off the backboard. His basket was followed up by a steal and a score by Brinson, capping off a 12-2 run that brought the Monarchs even with the Knights: 27-27 with 4:47 left in the half.
• Southern Virginia outscored Methodist 11-8 to finish out the first half, but Konner Raines scored the final bucket of the period. His soft layup sat on the rim before rolling in just as the final seconds expired off the clock.
• Malek Ngong got the scoring started in the second half with a two-point jumper. In turn, Southern Virginia produced a 6-0 run, but Methodist responded with its own six points. Halfway through the second period, the Monarchs trailed 51-49.
• With under 10 minutes to play, the Knights pieced together a 7-0 run to push ahead by nine. Applying an intense press on defense, the Monarchs were able to force a streak of SVU turnovers that guided Methodist on an 8-3 run to close the gap to four points with four and a half minutes to play. However, the Monarchs would make no more headway as they missed nine of their final 12 shots from the field.

 
MORE TO IT

• After hitting just one three-pointer in the first half, the Knights drilled four in the second half, including three by Sam Jex. Jex went 3-for-4 from behind the arc while the team shot 5-for-11 from deep as a whole.
• Southern Virginia required no offense from its bench, with all five starters scoring in double figures.
• Methodist's Derrion Hicklen and Brone Brinson led the team with 16 points each. Zac Sledge followed with 14 points and finished one rebound shy of a double-double.

 
UP NEXT
The Monarchs will travel to Rocky Mount on Tuesday to face off against the North Carolina Wesleyan Battling Bishops at 7 p.m.