MISENHEIMER, N.C. Riding a four-game win streak into Tuesday night's contest, the Methodist men's basketball team challenged the Falcons of Pfeiffer University on their home court before ultimately falling 89–75. The loss evens the season series between the two teams at 1–1.
JUST THE FACTS
Final score: Pfeiffer def. Methodist, 89–75
Records: Methodist 8–8 (4–2 USA South), Pfeiffer 9–8 (5–2 USA South)
Location: Merner Gym; Misenheimer, North Carolina
HOW IT HAPPENED
A blazing start by the Falcons saw them take a 16–5 lead over the first six and a half minutes, capping off the run with back-to-back threes from Justin Gaten. With the Monarchs trailing 28–20,
Dontavious Pettaway threw down a dunk that ignited a 10–4 run, of which Pettaway was responsible for all 10 Methodist points. The run cut Pfeiffer's lead to just two points, but the Falcons ended the period strong to take a 40–33 lead into halftime.
Pfeiffer's lead grew to 14 points as the clock passed inside of 13 minutes left in the second half, but that's when the Monarchs began an incredible run.
Deuce Rice canned a three, then
Tomas Stevens,
Brian Bullock and
Sean O'Connor all chipped in. The 11–0 scoring streak across a three-minute stretch was only briefly interrupted, then carried over into another basket from behind the arc by Rice. Consecutive layups by Rice and Stevens suddenly pulled the Monarchs level with the Falcons, 68–68 with seven minutes to go, as Methodist completed an 18–4 run. However, the Monarchs fell silent for nearly three minutes as the Falcons pieced together an 11-point run of their own, which was enough cushion to carry them comfortably to victory.
MORE TO IT
Pettaway led the Monarchs in points with 18 on the night, marking his second-highest points total in a game this season.
The Monarchs lost the rebound battle 47–30, with Pfeiffer big man Doug Smith snatching 18 boards. Smith also led the Falcons with 27 points and finished two blocks shy of a triple-double.
UP NEXT
Methodist will host Greensboro College on Friday at 5 p.m. The game was originally scheduled for Saturday but has been rescheduled to Friday in anticipation of winter weather across the state of North Carolina this weekend.
