FAYETTEVILLE, N.C. For the first time since the 2021–2022 season, the Methodist men's basketball team has logged back-to-back wins in conference play. The Monarchs took down the USA South's most efficient shooting squad at home on Saturday afternoon with a 58–56 win over Brevard College, which comes on the heels of Tuesday's one-point victory over Pfeiffer University.
This is the first time Methodist has beaten Brevard since January 4, 2020. With a 2–1 record versus conference foes, the team is off to its best three-game start in USA South play since the condensed, covid-impacted 2020–2021 season.
JUST THE FACTS
Final score: Methodist def. Brevard, 58–56
Records: Methodist 6–7 (2–1 USA South), Brevard 6–7 (0–3 USA South)
Location: March F. Riddle Center; Fayetteville, North Carolina
HOW IT HAPPENED
Teams traded blows to make the score 5–5, as
O'Montae Daniels connected from deep and
Dontavious Pettaway laid it off the glass to earn Methodist points. With Brevard averaging 11 three-point makes per contest, the Tornados knocked down a pair of shots from behind the arc as part of a quick eight-point run, but
Tre' Williams responded with the next five points to pull Methodist back within three, making the score 13–10 with just under 13 minutes left in the first half. The Monarchs got within one point of the visitors three times over the next six minutes but couldn't seem to get over the hump. Brevard's 8–0 run to end the half put the Monarchs down 34–24 at the break.
The Monarchs came out strong to start the second half, erasing the 10-point difference within the first five minutes to tie the score at 41–41. Six lead changes later, the score drew even once again, this time at 54–54 with around 3:20 to play. A tip-in basket by
KJ Brooks gave Methodist a two-point edge with under two minutes remaining, then a layup by Brevard's Tyler Baldwin knotted the score at 56–56 with 30 seconds left on the clock.
The Monarchs brought the ball up the court, then after having it poked out of bounds, called timeout with 5.2 seconds to go. On the ensuing inbounds play, Bullock passed it in to Daniels, who took three dribbles before firing a three. His shot was off the mark, but Bullock crashed in for the offensive rebound, going back up and drawing a foul just before time expired. With .4 seconds on the clock, Bullock iced the game by making both free throws and then disrupting Brevard's "Hail Mary" inbounds attempt to prevent a last-second shot.
MORE TO IT
After coming up clutch with a game-saving block against Pfeiffer, Bullock proved to be poised once again with the key offensive rebound and free throws to seal the win over Brevard. He finished the day tied for the team lead with seven rebounds and came up second on the team in points with 11 — his most in both categories since November.
Pettaway led the way with 12 points and matched Bullock with seven rebounds, while Daniels produced a stat line of nine points, four rebounds, three assists and three steals.
After shooting 32.1% from the floor in the first half, the Monarchs hit 43.3% of their shots in the second half. Conversely, Brevard's first-half clip of 52% fell to 30.8% in the second half.
UP NEXT
Methodist wraps up a three-game homestand on Wednesday, Jan. 14, when the Monarchs host William Peace University for a 7 p.m. tipoff.
