Just like Friday’s defeat at Spring Hill, the slow start doomed the Monarchs against Mobile. The Rams, ranked 20th in the latest NAIA Top 25, used a combination of full-court pressure defense and dribble penetration to take a 19-4 lead in the first eight minutes of the contest. However, Methodist didn’t panic as the Monarchs slowly crept back into it with some tremendous free throw shooting.
Methodist converted on 13-for-17 in the first half, including its first 10 straight as the Monarchs trimmed the 16-point deficit to six points, 26-20 on Marcus Hairston’s two free throws with 5:18 remaining. Eugene Grant’s jump shot at the 3:39 mark made the score 30-24 in favor of Mobile.
However, the Rams twice extended their lead to 14 points before taking a 41-31 lead at halftime.
Mobile took its largest lead of 16 points twice in the second half before Methodist again fought back to within striking distance. Zarko Comagic’s lay-up gave Mobile a 52-36 lead with 14:29 remaining, but Methodist responded with a 13-4 run to cut the Ram lead to seven points.
Hairston made two steals, converting them into transition baskets for the Monarchs, followed by Travis McBryde lay-up to cut the Mobile lead to 54-46 at the 10:43 mark. Grant’s 3-point basket at the 9:23 mark brought the Monarchs to within seven points at 56-49. That was as close as Methodist would get as Mobile’s pressure once again proved havoc for Methodist in the final moments.
Grant paced Methodist with 16 points, while McBride scored 12 points off the bench and Seth Thomas had 11 points and nine rebounds. For Mobile (9-2), Walter Fitzgerald scored 20 points, while Steve Pellan scored 13 points.
Methodist is off for the holiday break. The Monarchs return to action on Jan. 2 at Virginia Wesleyan.