ROCKY MOUNT, N.C.  Steering toward its second USA South victory of the season, the Methodist men's basketball team asserted itself early and finished strong as the Monarchs claimed a five-point win over North Carolina Wesleyan on Tuesday night. In the winning effort, Methodist was led by Zac Sledge, who notched a double-double with 21 points and 11 rebounds while also contributing three blocks, three assists and two steals.

JUST THE FACTS
Final score: Methodist def. North Carolina Wesleyan, 72-67
Records: Methodist 4-13 (2-5 USA South), North Carolina Wesleyan 9-8 (3-3 USA South)
Location: Everett Gymnasium; Rocky Mount, North Carolina

HOW IT HAPPENED

• The Monarchs came out swinging, as freshman Ron Jones hit a three-pointer to give Methodist a 9-3 advantage just over three minutes into the contest. The lead quickly reached 10 points (before five minutes had even passed in the first half) when Derrion Hicklen buried a jumper, giving the sophomore eight of Methodist's 15 points so far.
• The Battling Bishops reduced Methodist's lead to two points with under seven minutes to go in the period, but the Monarchs clawed back. Caleb Barreto's triple with less than three minutes remaining in the first half gave Methodist an eight-point advantage (31-23), and while North Carolina Wesleyan closed the half with three made free throws, Malek Ngong successfully scored a layup in the final seconds of the period to give Methodist a seven-point halftime lead.
• North Carolina Wesleyan slowly chipped away at the Methodist lead, finally surpassing the Monarchs when Marquis Eskew drilled a three-pointer to put the home team ahead 45-43 with 12:50 left to play. His shot was part of a 14-2 run in favor of the Battling Bishops, which at its end gave North Carolina Wesleyan a 52-45 lead. The Monarchs responded with a big 10-0 run that included three-pointers made by both Chance Minott and Jones.
• With the lead swinging back and forth like a pendulum, the Battling Bishops produced an 11-2 run to go from down three to up by six with just under five minutes remaining. They maintained a lead until within the final minute, when a layup by Hicklen put the Monarchs on top by one point with 35 seconds left. After a turnover by North Carolina Wesleyan that went out of bounds, Methodist capitalized with a successful inbound play, dialing up a deep pass to Zac Sledge, who slipped past the defense and threw down a dunk. Ngong sealed the win with two beauties at the free-throw line, giving the Monarchs the five-point victory.

 
MORE TO IT

• The Monarchs displayed excellent ball movement, recording a season-high 17 assists. It's the most assists Methodist has seen in a single game under head coach Aloysius Henry and the highest mark since Feb. 12, 2022, when the Monarchs tallied 18 helpers in a 74-69 win against Mary Baldwin.
• Methodist took advantage of North Carolina Wesleyan's 23 turnovers, scoring 27 points off those takeaways.
• The Monarchs were able to win despite sinking just six free throws (the team's second fewest makes at the charity stripe this season).

 
UP NEXT
Methodist returns to Fayetteville to host Greensboro on Saturday at 2 p.m. in the March F. Riddle Center.