The William Peace University men's basketball team fell in a hard-fought matchup to the Monarchs of Methodist University by a score of (98-88). The first half of the game saw both teams battle for control as the lead was passed back and forth. The Monarchs would gain an advantage before halftime to lead by 9. Despite great pressure from John Burwell, Camden Ferguson, and Tyson Sellers, the Pacers were unable to hold off Dante Burden and Garren Dearman in the second half.

THE BASICS

• Final score: William Peace 88, Methodist University 98
• Records: William Peace (5-8) (3-2), Methodist University (9-5) (4-1)
• Location: Fayetteville, NC

HOW IT HAPPENED

• John Burwell would get the Pacers off to a quick start in the first half as his jumper gave WPU a (2-0) lead. The Monarchs battled back to lead (6-4) before a shot from behind the arc by Burwell reclaimed a (7-6) Pacer lead. The game would be a back-and-forth contest with a tie score (18-18) about halfway through the first half as Ti'Quan Whitmore accounted for 6 of the Pacers' 18 points.
• A layup by Tyson Sellers would give the Pacers a (33-32) advantage before the Monarchs would go on an 11-point run to lead (43-33). Sellers would tally his 9th point of the game as the Pacers trailed (45-41). Another late push by Methodist would send them into halftime leading (52-43), with Mikal Gaylord grabbing the last points of the half with a drive under the net.
• Trey Bryant's shot from behind the arc would bring the score to (59-48) as the Pacers continued to trail. The Monarchs continued to hold the advantage as Dante Burden notched his 12th point of the game for a (66-51) lead. Burden continued to roll for the Monarchs despite some offensive pressure from the Pacers' John Burwell, and the Monarchs would lead (73-60) with 12 minutes remaining.
• Camden Ferguson would cut the Monarch lead to just ten (77-67) with a shot from behind the arc. A 3-pointer by Donolly Tyrell Jr. would cut Methodist's lead to (79-72). The Pacers would stay hot as a shot from behind the arc by Beau Bryant cut the lead to (83-79). Tyson Sellers and Camden Ferguson would combine with a few shots from behind the arc and from the foul line to cut Methodist's lead to just 2 (89-87). Despite the offensive push, the Pacers were unable to close the gap and would fall (98-88).

PACER TOP PERFORMERS

• Tyson Sellers led the Pacers with 18 points as he went 7 for 13 from the field.
• John Burwell added 17 points, 5 rebounds, and 3 assists.

FOR THE FOES

• Garren Dearman led the Monarchs with 26 points as he went 9 for 16 from the field and 3 for 6 from behind the arc.
• Dante Burden tallied 23 points, while Calvin Manley had 20 points and 9 rebounds.

STATS OF THE GAME

• The Pacers shot at 49.2% from the field in comparison to Methodist's 62.9%.
• The Monarchs tallied 35 rebounds while the Pacers notched 20.

NEXT GAME
The Pacers return home to host NC Wesleyan College in a USA South Conference battle. Tip-off is set for 7 PM in the Hermann Athletic Center.
 
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