FAYETTEVILLE, N.C.  Playing their final home game of the season, the Methodist men's basketball Monarchs hosted the Pfeiffer University Falcons on Wednesday in hopes of adding another conference victory to their résumé. Trailing by 11 points at halftime, the Monarchs cut their deficit to four but were unable to escape the jaws of defeat.

JUST THE FACTS
Final score: Pfeiffer def. Methodist, 82–74
Records: Methodist 6-15 (2–8 USA South), Pfeiffer 13–7 (9–2 USA South)
Location: March F. Riddle Center; Fayetteville, N.C.

HOW IT HAPPENED

• The first five minutes were played at an intensely fast pace. Doug Smith scored the first two baskets for Pfeiffer, but the Monarchs answered with two buckets of their own. Methodist tied the score again at 6–6 and 8–8. The Monarchs remained within four points until just before the 10:00 mark, when Jaylen Hamilton produced a layup to put Methodist down 20–14.
• Pfeiffer's lead reached nine before Chance Minott sank a three–pointer to stop the Falcons' momentum. Still, the visitors managed to go up by double–digits with 4:30 left in the period. Over the final four minutes, Justin Gaten earned two trips to the free–throw line while scoring his team's last 10 points of the half.
• Trailing by 11 to start the second half, the Monarchs missed on their first five shots and watched the Falcons score four more points before Minott recorded a layup. Just over four minutes into the half, Gaten buried a three and Sean Sucarichi scored on Pfeiffer's next possession to put Methodist behind by 18.
• As the Monarchs tried to pull back into the game, Zac Sledge flushed a dunk to get the margin back down to 10 (now 62–52 with 8:54 to play). Methodist continued to chip away, cutting the deficit down to six points when Brian Bullock went 2–for–2 at the charity stripe.
• Inside the final four minutes, Derrion Hicklen made his second consecutive basket to pull Methodist within four — the closest the score had been since there were around seven and a half minutes remaining in the first half. However, the Falcons scored the next seven points to put the game on ice.

MORE TO IT

• Smith for Pfeiffer recorded a double–double with 13 points and 10 rebounds — almost all of which came in the first half.
• The Falcons shot 54.5% from the field while the Monarchs did not have a spectacular shooting night, making just 40.8% of their shots.
• Hicklen was the Methodist's leading scorer on the outing, posting 22 points (including a perfect 6–for–6 mark at the free–throw line).

UP NEXT
The Monarchs end the regular season with four road games as they try to make a late–season push in order to earn a spot in the USA South tournament. It starts with a matchup at Mary Baldwin University on Saturday at 2 p.m.