December 16, 2005
Spring Hill fends off furious Methodist rally, 80-72
Grant scores season-high 18 in Monarch defeat

MOBILE, Ala. – Making a rare trip to the Alabama Gulf Coast, the Methodist Monarchs put up a furious rally on Friday night at NAIA program Spring Hill. However, the host Badgers held off the late Monarch charge and defeated Methodist 80-72 at the Outlaw Center.

The defeat was the fourth straight for Methodist, which slipped to 2-6 overall on the season.

The key difference was the perimeter game, where Spring Hill was hitting on nearly all cylinders. The Badgers connected on 11-for-19 for the game for 58 percent from 3-point range. Forward Noah Woolridge was a key factor, connecting on a whopping 6-for-7 from 3-point range for 20 points.

Spring Hill, behind the play of center Barkley Falkner, jumped out to an early 17-4 lead. However, Methodist responded with a 17-9 run to cut the Spring Hill lead to 26-21. However, three straight Badger 3-point baskets extended the Spring Hill lead to 39-23 at halftime.

The Badgers led by as many as 21 points in the second half before Methodist mounted its rally. Eugene Grant knocked down four 3-point baskets, followed by three from Fred McDonald as the Monarchs trimmed the Spring Hill lead to 76-69 with two minutes remaining. That, however, was as close as Methodist would trim the lead.

Grant paced Methodist with a season-high 18 points, while McDonald tallied 16 points. Antwin Shuford, who was an All-Conference cornerback this season for the Methodist football team, had an impressive debut for the Monarchs with 12 points, nine rebounds and three steals off the bench. Robert Lee added eight points for Methodist.

In addition to Woolridge, Falkner scored 18 points and grabbed 12 rebounds for Spring Hill (5-2). Cash Covington scored 16 points off the bench, and Krisner Green added nine points.

Methodist plays the second of its two-day swing along the Alabama Gulf Coast on Saturday at Mobile at 4 p.m.