FAYETTEVILLE, N.C. – The Methodist Monarch men’s basketball team needed a victory in the worst way possible and, at the same time, needed a breakout game from forward Eddie Lamar. The Monarchs got both on Saturday as Lamar scored a career-high 23 points to lead Methodist to a thrilling 82-79 overtime victory over Ferrum at the Riddle Center.
The defeat ended a four-game losing streak for Methodist, which improved to 5-7 overall and 1-1 in the USA South Athletic Conference. The Monarchs have now won four straight head-to-head against Ferrum and 11 of their last 12 against the Panthers.
Methodist clinged to a 72-70 lead in the final minutes of regulation. Ferrum forward Kevin Aigbe, however, knocked down two free throws with 17 seconds remaining. Methodist had one last chance to win, by Eugene Grant’s 3-point basket was short at the buzzer.
In the overtime, three free throws by Grant and one by Seth Thomas gave the Monarchs a 78-76 lead with 1:15 remaining. However, the Panthers’ Rob Fuller scored on a running jump shot in the lane with 59 seconds remaining and was foul. He sank the free throw to give Ferrum a 79-78 lead.
That set up Lamar, and the senior drilled a 3-point basket with 33 seconds remaining, giving the Monarchs an 81-79 lead. Ferrum had one last chance to either tie or win, but Darrion Jones’ 3-point attempt was off with three seconds remaining. Lamar was then intentionally fouled on the inbounds pass, and drained one free throw with two seconds remaining.
In addition to Lamar, Grant scored 16 points for Methodist, while Thomas scored 11 points and grabbed 10 rebounds and center Arthur Hatch scored 10 points and grabbed 10 rebounds. Forward Sam Porter added eight points and seven rebounds.
Aigbe was in a zone for Ferrum (7-6, 1-1), scoring a game-high 31 points and grabbed 11 rebounds. The senior scored 19 points in the second half as Ferrum rallied from an 11-point deficit in the final 10 minutes of regulation. Center Kendrick Holley scored 12 points and forward Chris Smith scored 11 points. Fuller added nine points off the bench for the Panthers.
Methodist plays host to Averett on Tuesday at 5:30 p.m.