Methodist falls to 6-16 overall on the season.
The defeat offset a sterling game by Methodist’s Seth Thomas. The 6-foot-4 senior wing recorded a double-double with a game-high 32 points and 13 rebounds on 12-for-17 shooting from the field and 3-for-3 shooting from 3-point range. In addition, that point total moved Thomas to within five points of reaching 1,000 for his Methodist career.
Methodist controlled the early part of the first half. The Monarchs broke a 7-7 tie with an 8-0 run as Dragan Radmanovic drained two straight 3-point baskets and Fred McDonald connected on two free throws. Thomas’ 3-point basket stretched the Methodist lead to 18-10 with 14 minutes remaining.
However, Piedmont cut into the lead, and then took a 24-23 lead on Brent Walker’s lay-up with 8:40 remaining. The Lions stretched the lead to as many as six points before Methodist cut the lead to a point on consecutive 3-point baskets by Thomas and Brandon Williams and a jumper by Radmanovic.
Leading by six points at halftime, Piedmont stretched the lead to 12 points, 66-54 on Mike Adams’ 3-point basket with 16:26 remaining. Twice, the Monarchs cut the lead to three points, the last coming on Travis McBryde’s lay-up with 4:33 remaining to make the Piedmont lead 92-89.
However, two straight 3-point baskets by Kyle Kemmerer stretched the Lion lead to 10 points, 106-96 at the 1:14 mark.
In addition to Thomas, Radmanovic had solid game with 21 points and seven rebounds for Methodist, while Grant scored 12 points and McDonald and McBryde each added 10 points.
For Piedmont (13-10), Adams scored 26 points on six 3-point baskets, while Jake Baldwin scored 25 points. Walker recorded a double-double with 16 points and 12 rebounds, and Tyler Whitlock and Kemmerer each added 10 points.
Methodist returns to USA South Athletic Conference action at rival North Carolina Wesleyan on Monday at 7:30 p.m.
PIEDMONT 110, METHODIST 100 METHODIST (6-16) THOMAS, Seth 12-17 5-9 32; RADMANOVIC, Dragan 7-17 3-4 21; GRANT, Eugene 5-13 2-2 12; MCDONALD, Fred 2-7 4-4 10; MCBRYDE, Travis 3-4 4-5 10; WILLIAMS, Brandon 2-5 2-4 7; MCEVOY, Michael 1-1 0-0 2; LEE, Robert 1-5 0-0 2; LANE, Brian 1-1 0-0 2; JONES, Marchise 1-6 0-0 2; BAHM, Aaron 0-0 0-0 0; MOORE, Craig 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 35-76 20-28 100. PIEDMONT (13-10) Adams, Mike 8-13 4-5 26; Baldwin, Jake 10-15 5-6 25; Walker, Brent 5-9 6-8 16; Whitlock, Tyler 3-6 4-4 10; Kemmerer, Kyle 3-8 2-2 10; Green, Jake 0-4 7-8 7; Adcock, David 2-4 2-2 7; Manos, Pete 1-3 1-2 4; Parker, Wesley 1-1 1-1 3; Kendall, Miles 1-2 0-1 2. Totals 34-65 32-39 110. Methodist ............. 43 57 - 100 Piedmont .............. 49 61 - 110 3-point goals-Methodist College 10-28 (RADMANOVIC, Dragan 4-7; THOMAS, Seth 3-3; MCDONALD, Fred 2-6; WILLIAMS, Brandon 1-3; LEE, Robert 0-2; JONES, Marchise 0-5; GRANT, Eugene 0-2), Piedmont College 10-20 (Adams, Mike 6-9; Kemmerer, Kyle 2-5; Adcock, David 1-3; Manos, Pete 1-2; Walker, Brent 0-1). Fouled out--Methodist College-MCDONALD, Fred, Piedmont College-None. Rebounds-Methodist College 44 (THOMAS, Seth 13), Piedmont College 37 (Walker, Brent 12). Assists-Methodist College 17 (MCDONALD, Fred 4; GRANT, Eugene 4), Piedmont College 25 (Green, Jake 7). Total fouls-Methodist College 29, Piedmont College 20. A-450