Box Score
DANVILLE, Va. — Senior
Brandon Malone scored all of his game-high 24 points in the second half as Averett pulled away for an 84-69 victory over Methodist University on Saturday at the Grant Center.
After Methodist (2-18, 2-5 USA South) rallied from a nine-point deficit to tie the game at 46-46 with 10:27 left to play, Malone scored Averett's next seven points. The Monarchs didn't back down, hitting a pair of 3-pointers to stay within one point on two occasions.
Averett (8-12, 5-4 USA South) methodically extended its lead down the stretch, and the Cougars benefited from a great night at the foul line. Averett finished 30-for-34 from the charity stripe, and Malone was 15-for-16 from the free throw line alone. Averett's 88.2 percent shooting from the foul line made it impossible for Methodist to catch up in the final minutes.
The Cougars also benefited from career nights from senior
Jeff Wehling and freshmen
Michael St. John and
Marquis Scott. St. John carried Averett offensively in the first half, scoring 12 of his career-high 16 points before halftime. Wehling provided a boost after halftime and finished with 13 points, which tied his previous career high set in the first round of the 2008 NCAA Tournament against Widener. He also grabbed a career-best seven rebounds. Scott finished with nine points and nine rebounds, both career highs.
Averett also outrebounded Methodist 48-29, marking only the third time all season that the Cougars have outdone their opponent on the glass.
Methodist led by as many as four points early in the first half before Averett finished the period strong. The Cougars took a 30-24 lead into the break thanks to a tip-in by St. John with 0.7 seconds left.
Mark Jernigan paced the Monarchs with 19 points. Tanner Carnes added 12 points and eight rebounds and Tyler Sigman chipped in with 11 points.
Averett notched its second win of the season over Methodist. The Cougars won their first meeting 85-64 on Jan. 13.
The Cougars' latest win over the Monarchs gives them a two-game winning streak entering Monday's make-up game against Bridgewater College at 7 p.m. at the Grant Center.