NEWPORT NEWS, Va.  Methodist University men's basketball traveled to The Apprentice School on Wednesday night to take part in a non-conference matchup. After trailing by 16 at the half, the Monarchs gave the Builders, the defending 2024 USCAA Division I National Champions, a scare in the second half but ultimately lost by a score of 82-63.

JUST THE FACTS
Final score: Apprentice def. Methodist, 82–63
Records: Methodist 1-1, Apprentice 3-0
Location: Apprentice Athletic Center; Newport News, Virginia

HOW IT HAPPENED

• Buckets by sophomore Ron Jones and junior Derrion Hicklen gave Methodist an early 4-2 advantage until a couple of Apprentice three-pointers made it 8-4. Two more baskets by the Monarchs knotted up the ballgame but then the Builders scored eight unanswered points to put them back in front, 16-8.
• Methodist sophomore Caleb Barreto trimmed the deficit down to five after he record five consecutive points, not long after though, Chris Hinmon of Apprentice registered five points himself to give his team a double-digit lead. The Builders maintained their 10-12 point lead during the remaining time in the first half before adding four more points to take a 16 point advantage into the break.
• Following an exchange of points to begin the second half, a Karree Smith shot from behind the arc capped off a 6-0 Apprentice run to make it a 19-point ballgame, 47-28. Over the next seven and half minutes, Methodist brought the score down to just seven points, 52-45, after going on a 17-5 scoring run.
• A pair of layups would give the Builders a double-digit advantage once again but freshman Greg Ehlinger (layup) and junior Tomas Stevens (two free throws) each scored two points to bring the Monarchs back to within seven, with a little over seven minutes left in the half. Down the stretch, Apprentice began to full court press to disrupt the newly gained momentum for Methodist, leading to a number of Monarch turnovers and missed shots, which allowed the Builders to increase their lead and take the contest over.

MORE TO IT

• Leading Methodist in scoring, and registering new career-highs, were senior Chance Minott and Barreto, respectively with 12 and 10.
• Ehlinger and junior Brian Bullock also had impressive performances in the loss. Ehlinger backed up his solid college debut by scoring eight points and coming down with eight rebounds, while Bullock stuffed the stat sheet with seven points, eight rebounds, a career-high five steals.
• Both team shot exactly 68 times but Apprentice made nine more buckets than the Monarchs, 33 to 23, which includes the 11 made three-pointers by the Builders (44%).

UP NEXT
Methodist doesn't wait long until its next game as the Monarchs make their home debut on Friday, November 15, against Randolph College. The opening tip is set for 7 PM.