FAYETTEVILLE, N.C. After trailing by as many as 15 points in the first half, the Methodist men's basketball team came alive in the second half of Saturday's game, closing within two points of the Newport News Apprentice School Builders with more than 10 minutes left to play. Despite their efforts, the Monarchs never possessed a lead in the contest, ultimately suffering an 11-point loss in the team's home opener.
JUST THE FACTS
Final score: Apprentice def. Methodist, 88–77
Records: Methodist 1-1, Apprentice 2-2
Location: March F. Riddle Center; Fayetteville, North Carolina
HOW IT HAPPENED
The Monarchs were caught off guard by the fast-paced Builders to start the game, falling behind 9–2 and already finding themselves in a 10-point hole at the first media timeout, down 16–6. Methodist cut the difference back down to five with a jumper from
Tre' Williams and a three-pointer by
O'Montae Daniels that made the score 16–11 with 11:20 to go in the half.
The lead for Apprentice reached as many as 13 points, but with just over two minutes left to play in the half, the Monarchs had cut the margin back down to seven, trailing 34–27 following a
Ron Jones layup. However, an 8–0 run by the Builders, which included a steal and a block on back-to-back defensive possessions, put the visitors ahead by 15. Their 9–4 run to close out the first half made the score 43–31 at the break. Apprentice ended the half with a 60% shooting clip from the field.
It was Methodist that had the hot start to begin the second half, with
KJ Brooks and
Dontavious Pettaway scoring the first two baskets of the period, which led to a timeout taken by the Builders. With 13:25 remaining, a three-point make by Williams ignited a 9–0 run in favor of the Monarchs, pulling them within two points (55–53) with under 12 minutes left on the clock.
Suddenly a three-point contest broke out. Apprentice's Monte Rudolph knocked down a triple, which
Brian Bullock immediately answered by sinking a three of his own. On the ensuing Apprentice possession, Jabari Brackett nailed a three, but Bullock once again had a response from deep. Apprentice hit from behind the arc on its next two scores, reclaiming an eight-point advantage with 10 minutes to go.
With 2:30 remaining and Methodist trailing 78–69, Pettaway took over the game for the Monarchs, scoring the team's next eight points on an 8–2 scoring burst that cut the difference back down to three with 1:22 to go. Pettaway went 4-for-4 at the free throw line during that span while earning two and-one opportunities. Unfortunately for Methodist, the late surge fizzled out, and the Builders wrapped things up by scoring the final eight points of the contest.
MORE TO IT
Pettaway led all Methodist scorers with 17 points, with 12 coming in the second half. Bullock also turned in a strong showing, posting 12 points while collecting a team-high seven rebounds. Rebounding was a struggle for the Monarchs as a whole though, totaling just 23 boards while the Builders secured 41.
UP NEXT
The Monarchs travel to Lynchburg, Virginia, on Wednesday, Nov. 19 to take on Randolph College with a 7 p.m. tipoff. The two teams faced off in Fayetteville last season with the Wildcats claiming a narrow 67–64 win.
