BREVARD, N.C.  Taking on the Tornados of Brevard College on Friday, the Methodist men's basketball team struggled mightily from three–point range, leading to an 85–70 loss. The Monarchs trailed by just one point at halftime but were unable to keep pace in the second half.

JUST THE FACTS
Final score: Brevard def. Methodist, 85–70
Records: Methodist 4-9 (0–2 USA South), Brevard 6–6 (1–2 USA South)
Location: Boshamer Gym; Brevard, N.C.

HOW IT HAPPENED

• The Monarchs got the scoring started with a layup by Zac Sledge and three free throws from David McCallum Jr., who was fouled on a shot attempt from behind the arc. Brevard responded, scoring nine of the next 11 points to go ahead by two.
• As a team, Methodist was exceptional on the offensive glass. With 12:30 to go in the half, Chance Minott gathered in an offensive rebound and battled through contact to put the ball back up and in for an and–one opportunity. It was one of seven possessions the Monarchs extended with an offensive board in the first half, and they scored on six of those seven occasions. Minott's free basket tied the score at 13–13, and his successful free throw put Methodist back in front.
• There were five more lead changes in the first half, with neither team pulling ahead by more than four points. A layup by Brevard's Justen Goudelock gifted the Tornados a 37–36 advantage at the break.
• Both squads came out hot to start the second half, with the teams combining for 25 points in the first five minutes of play. Charlie Hester hit back–to–back three–point shots on Brevard's first two possessions of the period. Then, his monstrous dunk was part of an 8–0 run that put the Tornados ahead by 10 (53–43 with 15:37 to go), forcing the Monarchs to call a timeout.
• Brevard's lead increased to as many as 16 points as the Tornados knocked down three more triples on their way to a 71–55 advantage with 8:49 remaining. Methodist clawed back within 11 points but could close the gap no more.

MORE TO IT

• Zac Sledge led all scorers with a season–high 21 points, tying his career–best as a Monarch with 10 made field goals. The big man went 10–for–14 from the floor and 1–for–2 at the line while producing seven rebounds, one block and one assist.
• Methodist recorded more rebounds than the Tornados, pulling down 32 compared to Brevard's 25. The Monarchs totaled 14 boards on the offensive glass, leading to 20 second chance points.
• Offensive efficiency was the difference in today's contest. The Monarchs scored on 37 of their 67 possessions, while the Tornados scored on 39 of their 65 possessions, which are similar rates (55% compared to 60%). However, Methodist averaged 1.04 points per possessions (ppp), while Brevard averaged 1.30, which is a larger disparity than it may seem. The Monarchs had six possessions in which they earned two free–throw attempts but only made one of the two foul shots, so essentially six possessions in which they scored only one point. This happened to the Tornados just three times, and of course, they made up for it with the nine possessions that ended in a three–point basket, while the Monarchs went 0–for–11 from deep.

UP NEXT
The Monarchs remain away from home for their next contest, traveling to Misenheimer on Wednesday, Jan. 15 for a game against the Pfeiffer University Falcons at 7 p.m.