Pfeiffer Men's Basketball Takes Methodist in Double OT, 112-110

Fayetteville, N.C. (Jan. 22, 2020) – The Pfeiffer University men's basketball team snapped Methodist University's four-game winning streak with a 112-110 double-overtime USA South win on Tuesday night at the Riddle Center.
 
The Falcons had five players score in double figures led once again by Tyjarek Simmons (Roanoke Rapids, N.C.), as he scored 25 points while hitting a team-best four from beyond the arc.  Junior teammate Jamaal David (Clinton, Md.) scored 20 points and achieved career highs in rebounds (18) and assists (5) while Craig Sabb (Goose Creek ,S.C.) added 15 points and nine rebounds.  Sean Scott (Waldorf, Md.) also played well, contributing 16 points and eight rebounds.  Rounding out the double-digit scorers for Pfeiffer was freshman Regin Larson (Charlotte, N.C.) as he had a career-high 14 points.

After being up 39-34 at halftime, Methodist battled back to tie the game at 63-63 following a Calvin Manley jumper at the 7:54 mark.  Methodist would then get a pair of free throws at 6:22 to go ahead 65-63.  The Monarchs then surged ahead 69-65 at 4:58 and led by as many as  seven points (76-69) following a three-pointer from Dante Burden with 2:19 left in regulation.

Jamaal David's free throw at 1:01 trimmed the MU lead to 78-74 and following a foul on Pfeiffer, the Monarchs were able to take the 80-74 lead with 30 seconds remaining.
 After a Pfeiffer miss and offensive rebound, Simmons canned a three pointer with 17 seconds left to bring Pfeiffer to 80-77.  The Falcons were forced to foul to conserve the clock and Methodist's Sam Mingledoff missed a pair of free throws with 16 seconds left.  Simmons then tied the game at 80-80 with six seconds left when Simmons hit another three-pointer.  The last second shot by Methodist was off the mark sending the game into overtime.

In overtime, Pfeiffer grabbed a 92-85 lead following a David free throw at 2:21.  Methodist fought back, with Malik Edwards suppling a layup with five seconds while being fouled to tie the game at 99-99.  After a Pfeiffer timeout, Edwards missed the go-ahead free throw, allowing the Falcons to attempt a game-winning shot, but David's three-point attempt was blocked, sending the game into the second overtime period.

After being down 105-101 after two Methodist free throws at 3:05, Pfeiffer fought back, putting together a 6-1 run to knot the game at 107-107 following two free throws from Larson.  Larson would put Pfeiffer up 109-107 with a layup and following a D.J. Brasher (Burlington, N.C.) basket, Pfeiffer led 111-107 with 28 seconds to go.

Methodist answered with a three-pointers to make it 111-110, but a free throw from Sean Scott with 12 seconds to go provided the eventual 112-110 final, as a potential tying layup from Methodist at the buzzer fell off the rim, sending the Falcons to the win.

The win, Pfeiffer's third in the past four games, improves the Falcons to 9-7 overall and 4-4 in USA South play while Methodist drops to 10-6 overall and 6-2 in league play.