February 23, 2008
Methodist Claims Share of Championship With Win
Senior Brian Lane scores career high 21 points in final home game

FAYETTEVILLE, NC- Methodist took over late in the first half and went on an early run in the second half to cruise to a 94-85 win over Christopher Newport Saturday afternoon. The men finished in a tie for first place with Ferrum College for the USA South Championship. The Monarchs move to 16-9 overall this season and 8-4 in the USA South while Christopher Newport is 10-15 overall and 6-6 in the conference.

Senior Travis Winstead opened the scoring for Methodist with a 3-pointer and the Monarchs jumped out to an early five point lead, but the Captains came back and led by as many as five points on three separate occasions. Senior Brian Lane hit a 3-pointer with 5:28 to go to cut the lead to two and hit another one on the next time down the court for Methodist to take a one point lead. Methodist finished the half with a 40-36 lead.

The Monarchs came out in the second half on an 11-0 run to open up a 15 point advantage. Methodist would lead by as many as 22 midway through the half on a 3-pointer from junior A.B. Lehmann. With just under three minutes left in the game, the Captains started fouling. With Methodist up by 12, Davon Barton hit back-to-back threes for Christopher Newport and the lead was cut to six with six seconds remaining. Methodist hit three free throws in the final seconds to secure the 94-85 win.

Lane and Lehmann led the team with 21 points a piece while Winstead scored 14 points and junior Travis McBryde finished with a double-double on 12 points and 11 rebounds.

Methodist secured the number one seed in the tournament and will receive a bye in Tuesday's quarterfinal. They will face the winner of Averett and Christopher Newport on Friday at Christopher Newport.

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