College Men’s Basketball Final – Methodist 70, Guilford 65

FAYETTEVILLE, N.C. – Bryan Rouse pumped in five three-pointers and 25 points, both game highs, in Methodist University’s 70-65 basketball victory over Guilford College Saturday. The hot-shooting Monarchs held off a late Quakers’ rally that trimmed a 13-point second-half deficit down to two in the final two minutes.

Rouse scored 18 points and the Monarchs shot 50 percent from the floor to open a 37-32 halftime lead. Rouse’s layup midway through the second half capped a 12-1 Monarchs’ run that featured seven Rouse points. The outburst opened a 54-41 Methodist advantage with 9:55 left in regulation.

Guilford answered with a 22-11 spurt thanks to a combined five three-pointers from Mason Reyer and Carson Long. Long’s second triple capped the run and brought the Quakers to within 65-63 with just two minutes left. The teams traded baskets in the final minute, before Rae Hall’s traditional three-point play with 29 seconds left provided the game’s final margin. Guilford had three three-point shots and a steal in the final 14 seconds, but could not get one to fall.

Rouse connected on nine-of-15 field goals, including five-of-nine three-pointers. He also had four rebounds, four assists and four steals in 29 minutes. Jackson Whitley chipped in 16 points, a team-high five boards and a game-best six blocks for the Monarchs. Davion Ayabarreno and Hall both netted 12 points apiece. The Monarchs shot 52 percent from the floor, including nine-of-19 from three-point land.

Long led Guilford with 17 points and Reyer had a career-high 16 in defeat. The Quakers shot less than 35 percent from the floor, but won the battle of the boards, 39-27. Marcus Curry added nine points off the bench and Zachary Houston finished with seven points, a game-high six rebounds, three assists and two steals.

Coach Tom Palombo’s Quakers (5-2) visit Birmingham Southern College Thursday (12/15) at 6:00 p.m.

Box Score follows Pictures by Andy Gore
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Guilford vs Methodist
12/10/16 2:00 pm at Fayetteville, NC – Riddle Center
At Fayetteville, NC – Riddle Center

METHODIST 70
GUILFORD 65

GUILFORD (5-2): LONG, Carson 7-18 0-0 17; REYER, Mason 5-11 2-5 16; CURRY, Marcus 3-11 3-6 9; HOUSTON, Zachary 3-7 1-1 7; THOMPSON, Alston 1-4 4-4 6; GORE, Jaylen 2-4 0-0 4; HENDERSON, Dominique 0-6 2-2 2; STEPHENS, PJ 1-3 0-0 2; ROGERS, Jarrod 1-2 0-0 2; LAWSON, Daniel 0-0 0-0 0; GREGORY, Kyler 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 23-66 12-18 65.

METHODIST (4-5): Bryan Rouse 9-15 2-2 25; Jackson Whitley 5-6 5-7 16; Davion Ayabarreno 5-11 0-0 12; Rae Hall 5-12 2-3 12; Troynell Reese 1-2 0-0 3; Blake Davis 1-2 0-0 2; Will Baggett 0-0 0-0 0; Zach Jenerette 0-0 0-0 0; Victor Grayer 0-0 0-0 0; Irving Aughburns 0-2 0-0 0. Totals 26-50 9-12 70.

Guilford......................   32   33  -   65
Methodist.....................   37   33  -   70

3-point goals–Guilford 7-28 (REYER, Mason 4-7; LONG, Carson 3-13; HOUSTON, Zachary 0-2; GORE, Jaylen 0-1; HENDERSON, Dominique 0-3; STEPHENS, PJ 0-2), Methodist 9-19 (Bryan Rouse 5-9; Davion Ayabarreno 2-4; Jackson Whitley 1-1; Troynell Reese 1-2; Irving Aughburns 0-1; Rae Hall 0-2).
Fouled out–Guilford-None, Methodist-None.
Rebounds–Guilford 39 (HOUSTON, Zachary 6), Methodist 27 (Jackson Whitley 5).
Assists–Guilford 9 (HOUSTON, Zachary 3), Methodist 15 (Rae Hall 6).
Total fouls–Guilford 12, Methodist 12.
Technical fouls–Guilford-None, Methodist-None.
A-203
Nonconference game