STAUNTON, Va. The Methodist men's basketball team made its way to Mary Baldwin on Saturday for a game that was controlled by the Fighting Squirrels from start to finish. The Monarchs shot a season-low 29.4% from the field and never held a lead during the 22-point loss.
JUST THE FACTS
Final score: Mary Baldwin def. Methodist, 73-51
Records: Methodist 4-16 (2-8 USA South), Mary Baldwin 11-9 (7-2 USA South)
Location: Physical Act. Center; Staunton, Virginia
HOW IT HAPPENED
- A cold start for both teams delivered a combined six missed shots before the Fighting Squirrels made two free throws. Methodist's Malek Ngong knocked down the first basket from the floor to tie the score at 2-2, then Mary Baldwin pieced together a 6-0 run. The Monarchs stayed with two possessions of the home team up until Logan Barbour drilled the first three-pointer of the game, giving the Fighting Squirrels a 16-7 advantage with 11:42 left in the first half.
- Layups by Ron Jones, Derrion Hicklen and Zac Sledge gave Methodist the next six points, but Mary Baldwin proceeded to score 10-straight points, doubling the Monarchs as the score became 26-13 with under seven minutes remaining in the period. With less than three minutes to go, Mary Baldwin's Zach Sloan sank a shot from beyond the arc that put the Fighting Squirrels up by 15 (36-21). The difference reached 17 points as Luke Ogle finished out the half with two makes from the free-throw line for Mary Baldwin.
- Methodist held Mary Baldwin without a field goal for the first five minutes of the second half, but the Monarchs scored just two baskets during that stretch – both in the paint by Ngong. While the lead had been cut to 13, the Fighting Squirrels scored the next seven points to go up by 20. With 9:00 to go, Mary Baldwin's lead reached a game-high 28 points.
- Brone Brinson scored 10 of Methodist's final 18 points, narrowing the gap down to a final difference of 22 points.
MORE TO IT
- Malek Ngong had a solid performance across the board for the Monarchs, posting eight points, eight rebounds, two blocks and two steals.
- Methodist was held to just one make from behind the arc, marking the fifth game this season the Monarchs have scored no more than one three-pointer.
UP NEXT
Methodist returns home for two games next week, starting with a clash against North Carolina Wesleyan on Tuesday at 7 p.m.