FAYETTEVILLE, N.C.  Methodist University men's basketball opened USA South Athletic Conference play on Wednesday, January 3, with a home contest against William Peace University. With .3 seconds left on the clock, the Pacers only made one of their final two free throws to give the Monarchs a thrilling 71-70 victory.

JUST THE FACTS
Final score: Methodist def. William Peace, 71-70
Records: Methodist 3-8 (1-0 USA South), William Peace 5-7 (0-1)
Location: March F. Riddle Center; Fayetteville, North Carolina

HOW IT HAPPENED

• Both teams kept pace with each other in the first seven minutes of the ballgame, where on four occasions the score was tied up. Brone Brinson would give Methodist a four-point advantage, 19-15, after knocking down a three-pointer midway through the half.
• Points on consecutive possessions by William Peace knotted the game at 21-21 but then Malek Ngong put the Monarchs back in front with a layup. After scoring ten more points to their respective total, the Pacers almost took a two-point lead into the locker room until Methodist got a lay in by Derrion Hicklen to match the score at 31-31.
• William Peace reclaimed an early 41-35 second half lead by nailing back-to-back threes. Scoring the next six Monarch points was Zac Sledge to make it 43-41, in favor of the Pacers still, but then William Peace increased its advantage back to seven points with a 7-2 scoring run.
• Methodist utilized an 8-0 run to take a one-point, 51-50, lead over the Pacers. Five minutes later William Peace was back in front following a five-point swing and then a three ball gave the Pacers a 63-57 advantage.
• Still down by six with 2:13 left, the Monarchs scored nine unanswered points to go up 70-67. Following a made William Peace basket, Hicklen put Methodist up by two, 71-69, after making one of two free throws. With 20 seconds left, the Pacers ran their final offensive play in hopes of forcing overtime or winning the game. A Monarch foul was called on the final shot attempt to send William Peace to the stripe, where the Pacers missed the second attempt to give Methodist the win.

MORE TO IT

• The Monarchs had three scorers reach double figures with Hicklen leading the way with a team-high 18 points.
• With 14 points and 14 rebounds, Sledge finished the game with his second double-double this season. His 14 boards were also a game & season-high as well.
• Free throws proved to be deciding factor in this contest. Methodist made 81%, 17 of 21, of its shots from the charity stripe while William Peace struggled, 15 of 30 (50%).

UP NEXT
Methodist will be home again on Saturday, January 6, as the Monarchs welcome Mary Baldwin University to Fayetteville. Tip-Off is scheduled for 4 PM.