FAYETTEVILLE, N.C.  Despite bearing a 16–point halftime deficit against Mary Baldwin University on Saturday, the Methodist men's basketball team saw a chance to win on the final possession of the game but was unable to convert a shot at the buzzer. The Fighting Squirrels, who connected on an astounding 73% of their shots in the first half, survived the comeback attempt by the Monarchs to remain perfect in USA South play.
 
Junior Derrion Hicklen did his best to put the team on his back, scoring a career–high 31 points while shooting 17–for–18 at the free–throw line, which broke a program record for makes at the stripe.

JUST THE FACTS
Final score: Mary Baldwin def. Methodist, 77–75
Records: Methodist 4-11 (0–4 USA South), Mary Baldwin 10–5 (5–0 USA South)
Location: March F. Riddle Center; Fayetteville, N.C.

HOW IT HAPPENED

• The veteran duo of Jaden Ignacio and Quentin Hart started hot for Mary Baldwin, combining for the first 10 points of the game. Playing from behind, the Monarchs began to make some baskets, including a dunk by Ke Edwards that made the score 14–10 (still in favor of the Fighting Squirrels) with 14 minutes left in the half.
• Methodist cut the difference down to two points when Chance Minott canned a shot from deep, making the score 26–24 with under seven minutes before the break. A three–point answer by Hart sparked a 10–0 run for Mary Baldwin, ballooning the margin to 12 points. With 44 seconds on the clock, Mary Baldwin's Logan Barbour sank his team's fifth three–pointer of the half to give the visitors a 16–point advantage — their largest lead of the game.
• The Monarchs scored the first five points of the second half. Then, starting at the 16:50 mark, Edwards and Hicklen teamed up for a 10–0 run while helping hold Mary Baldwin scoreless for four and a half minutes. Slowly digging a way out of their hole, the Monarchs pulled within three points as Hicklen sank his 13th and 14th free throw of the game, making the score 59–56 with just under seven minutes left on the clock.
• With 1:33 to play, Hicklen laid the ball off the glass to make it a one–point game. Hart responded with a layup on the other end, and Edwards was sent to the line on the ensuing possession. Making both shots, he cut the difference to one point again.
• Another layup for Mary Baldwin inside the final minute made the score 75–72. The teams went back and forth to the free–throw line, with the Monarchs making three of four and the Fighting Squirrels going 2–for–2. With the shot clock now off, Methodist was forced to foul but managed to put Mary Baldwin's best free–throw shooter at the line for a one–and–one opportunity. Ignacio, who was 43–for–47 at the line this season, surprisingly missed, allowing the Monarchs one final possession. With five seconds to go, Hicklen tried an off–balance three that wouldn't fall. Securing the offensive rebound with two seconds remaining, Edwards tried a mid–range two, but it didn't have the distance.

MORE TO IT

• The Monarchs enjoyed their largest free–throw differential of the season, earning 32 shots at the charity stripe compared to just five for the Fighting Squirrels. It was simultaneously the most free throws that Methodist has attempted all season and the fewest an opponent has taken in a single game.
• Derrion Hicklen started a perfect 15–for–15 at the free–throw line before his first miss. His 17 makes tops the previous program record of 16 held by Quinton Harshaw, who accomplished the feat against the Apprentice School during the 1988–89 season.
• For the third time this season, Ke Edwards put up 21 points, finishing as the team's second–leading scorer behind Hicklen.
• Saturday's two–point loss is Methodist's third one–possession loss of the season.

UP NEXT
Methodist travels to Raleigh to face William Peace University on Wednesday at 7 p.m. Both squads will be looking for their first win in conference action.