STAUNTON, Va.  On Saturday, Methodist University men's basketball earned its second-ever victory against Mary Baldwin University on the road, as the Monarchs' hot-shooting first half picked them up a key 81–69 USA South victory over the Fighting Squirrels in the Physical Activities Center.

JUST THE FACTS
Final score: Methodist def. Mary Baldwin, 81–69
Records: Methodist 7–15 (3–8 USA South), Mary Baldwin 12–11 (6–6)
Location: The Physical Activities Center; Staunton, Virginia

HOW IT HAPPENED

• Before the opening tip, Methodist was issued an administrative tech, which allowed Mary Baldwin to take a one-point lead via free throw. Following the tip, the Monarchs scored nine of the first 11 points of the contest, with David McCallum Jr. recording four points. A pair of three-pointers by the Fighting Squirrels knotted up the score, 9–9, until sometime later, when Jeremy Mull knocked down his own three to begin a 7-0 run for Methodist.
• With the score 31–28, Mary Baldwin kept pace with the Monarchs, thanks to DJ Via, who drilled shots from behind the arc on four of the next five Fighting Squirrel possessions. After an exchange of points by both squads, Mull and McCallum Jr. combined for three straight three-pointers, two and one respectively, to give Methodist its first double-digit lead of the game, 44–33. Each team scored six more points before halftime, as Quentin Hart made a pair of deep shots for Mary Baldwin while Tomas Stevens (4) and Zac Sledge (2) registered the Monarchs' points.
• For the entirety of the second half, the Fighting Squirrels never got below an eight-point deficit. Jaden Ignacio (4) and Raymond Benton (3) outscored Methodist 7-4 to start the new half, but a layup by Stevens and another three from Mull quickly gave the Monarchs a 13-point edge, 59–46. Benton and Hart would bring Mary Baldwin within eight once more, until a 12-3 Methodist run, with Derrion Hicklen and Ron Jones each scoring four points, put the game out of reach.

MORE TO IT

• Methodist had five players reach double figures, with Jones (7-of-11 FGs) and Mull (5-of-7 FGs; 4-of-5 3s) leading the way with 14 points each.
• The Monarchs shot lights out in the first half, making 75% (21-of-28) of their shots. For the game, Methodist shot 61.8%, which is a season high.
• More known for his rebounding and blocking abilities, Sledge dished out a game-high five assists, which was also a career-high.

UP NEXT
With three games left in the regular season, Methodist heads to North Carolina Wesleyan University on Tuesday, February 18, for its next USA South game. Tip-off is scheduled for 7 PM.