SWANNANOA, N.C. The Methodist men's basketball team kicked off its 2025–2026 season with an impressive 77–60 road victory over Warren Wilson College at the Devries Athletic Center on Tuesday afternoon.
JUST THE FACTS
Final score: Methodist def. Warren Wilson, 77–60
Records: Methodist 1-0, Warren Wilson 0-1
Location: Devries Athletic Center; Swannanoa, North Carolina
HOW IT HAPPENED
- The Monarchs jumped out to an early 8–3 lead, fueled by a pair of three-pointers from Tre' Williams and a basket from Sean O'Connor. Despite a brief response from the Owls, who cut the deficit to two points, Methodist surged ahead with a dominant 19-2 run over seven minutes, increasing their lead to 35–16.
- In the closing moments of the first half, Brian Bullock, Dontavious Pettaway, and O'Connor each added to the score, extending the margin to 21 points at halftime, with the score standing at 41–20.
- The second half began roughly for the Monarchs, who initially struggled and allowed Warren Wilson to chip away at the lead, outscoring them 16-5. After a timeout, Methodist regained its composure, with Tomas Stevens hitting a jumper and Xavion White contributing two quick layups, momentarily pushing the score to 52–43.
- However, Warren Wilson responded, scoring seven consecutive points to tighten the contest. The teams exchanged points for a stretch, but as the game progressed, the Owls began to miss shots while the Monarchs found their rhythm. A decisive 7-0 run followed by another 6-0 spurt helped Methodist secure the victory in the final minutes.
MORE TO IT
- O'Connor and Williams led the offensive charge for Methodist, each scoring 14 points, while Ron Jones and White contributed with 11 and 10 points, respectively.
- Free throw performance played a crucial role in the win, as Methodist converted 22 of 28 attempts compared to Warren Wilson's 7-of-14 at the line.
- On the boards, Bullock and Pettaway each grabbed six rebounds to lead the team, with Williams closely behind at five.
UP NEXT
Methodist will return to Fayetteville for its home opener on Saturday, November 15, hosting the Apprentice School. Tipoff is set for 4 PM.
