FAYETTEVILLE, N.C. In spectacular, come-from-behind fashion, the Methodist men's basketball team claimed victory over Southern Virginia University on Wednesday evening, outscoring the Knights 36–20 across the final 10 minutes of action. The Monarchs were fueled by senior guard
Tomas Stevens, whose mid-range jump shot was nearly automatic as he produced a career-high 27 points off the bench.
JUST THE FACTS
Final score: Methodist def. Southern Virginia, 90–87
Records: Methodist 10–11 (6–5 USA South), Southern Virginia 12–9 (8–3 USA South)
Location: March F. Riddle Center; Fayetteville, North Carolina
HOW IT HAPPENED
The first shot of the game came off the hand of
Tre' Williams, who saw his three-pointer swish through the hoop. At the first media timeout, the Monarchs possessed an 11-8 advantage, with seven points belonging to Williams. Checking in for the first time with just under 14:00 left in the half, Stevens sank his first two shots, helping Methodist maintain a five-point lead. The Knights battled back to tie the score at 20–20 with 9:45 to go, then took the lead. The teams drew even three more times over the next six minutes, reaching a 32–32 standstill at the final media timeout of the half. The Knights closed the period on an 11–2 run, claiming a nine-point halftime lead (43–34).
After only making one three-pointer in the first half, Southern Virginia drilled a pair of triples within the first two and a half minutes of the second half. The Knights were extremely efficient on their shots over the first nine minutes of the second half, going 10-for-12 from the field. Southern Virginia's lead peaked at 16 points (66–50) with 11 minutes to go. That's when the defensive press by the Monarchs started to pay off. Over the next four and a half minutes, Methodist forced five turnovers, contributing to a 21–4 scoring streak that was punctuated by a lead-changing three-pointer off the hand of Stevens. During the run, the Monarchs went a perfect 9-for-9 from the floor with 11 points for Stevens, six by
KJ Brooks and four from Williams.
As the teams exchanged scoring blows,
Brian Bullock drained a three-pointer that tied the score at 76–76 with 4:24 remaining. With just over a minutes to go, Southern Virginia's Ashton Davis (who finished with 27 points) gave the Knights a three-point advantage. Stevens earned two free throws on Methodist's next possession, then Bullock intercepted a pass and drew a foul to produce two free throws of his own, providing the Monarchs an 86–85 edge with 49 seconds to play.
Mike Fee followed suit on the very next defensive stand, stealing the ball and getting it up ahead to Bullock, who laid it in for a three-point lead.
Methodist ultimately won the game at the free-throw line, immaculately sinking all 12 attempts across the final four minutes of the contest. Bullock tallied six makes at the stripe during that span, while Brooks made four and Stevens added two. The Monarchs finished the game 21-for-22 (.955) at the line, which is the team's best single-game percentage this season.
MORE TO IT
The Monarchs were at a disadvantage down low, allowing 54 points in the paint while scoring 32 of their own. However, they capitalized on Southern Virginia's 16 second-half turnovers, ending the game with 28 points off turnovers.
The Monarchs won despite totaling a season-low 19 rebounds. Methodist amazingly did not secure a rebound for the first eight and a half minutes of the second half.
While Stevens led the team, Williams finished with 20 points, followed by 16 from Bullock and 14 from Brooks. Bullock also ended the night with a team-high five steals, which matched a career high.
UP NEXT
Methodist is back at home on Saturday to take on Mary Baldwin University at noon.
