It was a back-and-forth game to the fullest and then some.
Trailing by six points at halftime (47-41), Methodist (1-1) battled back and took the lead on a few occasions. As time wound down in the second half, the Monarchs’ Seth Thomas drained a 3-point basket to tie the game 96-96 with 18 seconds remaining in regulation. The Tigers’ Spencer Roland then put Sewanee ahead with a lay-up with four seconds remaining, but Methodist answered as Eugene Grant scored on a coast-to-coast lay-up as time expired to send the game into overtime.
In the first overtime, the lead changed hands three times before Sewanee took a 108-106 lead on a Rowland lay-up with 15 seconds remaining. However, Marcus Hairston forced a second overtime with a lay-up with four seconds remaining. The Tigers stretched their lead to five points in the second overtime period, only to see Methodist battle back again.
Fred McDonald brought Methodist to two points, 115-113 with a 3-point basket, and then Dragan Radmanovic tied the game with two free throws with 2:21 remaining. Sewanee answered, though, taking a two-point lead on two free throws by C.J. Stedlen with a minute remaining.
Methodist had a chance to tie it with 45 seconds remaining, but Hairston missed two free throws. After Sewanee increased the lead to three points on James Pryor’s free throw, Methodist had one final opportunity to tie and force a third overtime, but the Monarchs committed a turnover to end it.
Thomas scored a career-high 33 points on 14-for-18 shooting from the field, while Radmanovic scored a career-high 25 points on a perfect 9-for-9 shooting from the free throw line. Hairston scored 11 points and dished out 11 assists, while Brandon Williams scored 11 points and McDonald added 10 points. Thomas and Radmanovic both made the All-Tournament team.
Joey Garcia had a double-double for Sewanee (2-0) with 33 points and 15 rebounds, while Ben Campbell scored 22 points on 11-for-15 shooting from the field. Rowland scored 17 points for the Tigers, followed by Pryor with 13 points and Ben Pursell added 11 points.
Methodist plays third-ranked Wooster on Friday at Emory & Henry Invitational.