FAYETTEVILLE, N.C.  A slow start for the Methodist men's basketball team on Tuesday afternoon led to an 11–point loss at home against the Southern Virginia Knights — one of two teams that are now 2–0 in USA South play. Down by 17 at halftime, the Monarchs fought back valiantly to close the gap to four points in the second half, but the come–from–behind effort ultimately fell short.

JUST THE FACTS
Final score: Southern Virginia def. Methodist, 66–55
Records: Methodist 4-8 (0–1 USA South), Southern Virginia 11–2 (2–0 USA South)
Location: March F. Riddle Center; Fayetteville, N.C.

HOW IT HAPPENED

• The Knights opened the game with an 11–4 run, with Methodist amassing as many turnovers as points during that span of just over five minutes. David McCallum Jr. picked up the next four points for the Monarchs before Eli Ballstaedt (of Southern Virginia) and Derrion Hicklen traded buckets to make the score 13–10 in favor of the visitors with 11:43 to go in the half.
• The next four minutes saw a 12–point run for the Knights that boosted their lead to 15 points. Back–to–back baskets by Hicklen and Zac Sledge were quickly answered with three consecutive scores by Southern Virginia, giving the visitors a 17–point advantage (31–14 with 3:19 remaining in the period). The Knights' lead briefly reached 18 points before McCallum Jr. responded with a three–pointer. Still, Southern Virginia carried a 39–22 lead into halftime.
• The Monarchs played with more energy in the second half, scoring the first five points of the period. A three–pointer by Ron Jones cut the difference to 11, and then two makes at the free–throw line for Ke Edwards made the difference nine points. After subbing into the contest for the first time, Jarius Fajardo scored Methodist's next three points (recording a layup and making one of two shots at the charity stripe) while providing a second wind on defense. The momentum continued to churn in Methodist's direction as Wanquavious Butler and Hicklen scored back–to–back baskets to narrow the gap some more, pulling within five points of the Knights (44–39) with more than 12 minutes still left to play.
• Ballstaedt — the reigning USA South Player of the Week — went to work for the Knights, scoring his team's next seven points to put Methodist behind 51–41. The Monarchs again fired back, with seven straight points for Chance Minott (including a shot from behind the arc) decreasing Methodist's deficit to four points (54–50) with 6:17 on the clock. Minott canned another three with 3:29 to play to make the score 60–55, but the Knights would suffocate the Monarchs for the remainder of the contest, not allowing any more points in route to the 65–55 defeat.

MORE TO IT

• The Knights put five scorers in double–figures. Eli Ballstaedt, the team's leading scorer at 19 points per game, finished 3–for–12 from the field with 11 points on the night.
• David McCallum Jr. tied his best offensive performance as a Monarch with 17 points on the outing, leading all scorers for both teams.
• Methodist was outscored in the paint 48–30 as Southern Virginia found almost all of its success inside the arc.

UP NEXT
The Monarchs travel to Brevard College for their next game, which is currently slated for Saturday at 2 p.m.