Fayetteville, N.C.-- The 22nd-ranked University of Lynchburg men's basketball team brought home a close 78-76 win against the Methodist University Monarchs in a non-conference matchup Saturday afternoon.

Senior wing Austin Wrighten (Woodbridge, Va.) hit a personal best, earning 29 points along with 12 rebounds and he went 7-for-8 at the free throw line. Senior guard Devante' Young (Charlotte, N.C.) had a solid day, collecting five assists and five steals. Senior forward Connor Schroeder (Blacksburg, Va.) had 15 points of his own and grabbed seven rebounds, and sophomore guard Chance Greene (Creedmoor, N.C.) tallied 13, including a clutch pair of free throws in the waning seconds.

THE RUNDOWN

Final: No. 22 Lynchburg 78, Methodist 76

Records: No. 22 Lynchburg 8-1, Methodist 4-6

Venue: March F. Riddle Center, Methodist University, Fayetteville, N.C.

HOW IT HAPPENED

• The teams played back-and-forth ball for the first several minutes until a fast-break layup by freshman forward Cole Meadows (Pearisburg, Va.) gave the Hornets a 20-19 lead with 6:48 to go. Lynchburg led the remainder of the half.

• Lynchburg expanded the lead with an 11-0 run late in the half, and Greene's 3 with 31 seconds left helped the Hornets go into the break with a 41-32 advantage.

• The Monarchs cut the lead methodically after halftime, eventually tying the score at 54 with 10:07 remaining. Schroeder immediately gave Lynchburg the lead again with a layup, but the Hornets never led by more than five again.

• A Kaymon Mitchell 3-pointer gave the Monarchs a brief 70-69 lead with 1:40 remaining, but Wrighten drew a foul 12 seconds later on the other end and sank both free throws to put the Hornets back on top. Lynchburg got a stop on the other end, and Young gave the Hornets some breathing room with a 3-pointer with 54 seconds remaining. Greene went 4-for-4 from the line in the final minute to help nail down the win.

LOOKING AHEAD

Next the Hornets will play against McDaniel next Saturday, Dec 16 at 4 p.m. on Wayne Proffitt Court at Turner Gymnasium in a non conference game.

--LYN--