Rocky Mount, NC - In a thrilling, high-paced matchup, the N.C. Wesleyan men's basketball team earned a hard-fought 80-76 victory over Methodist on Wednesday night, marking its fourth consecutive conference win. The Battling Bishops overcame a three-point halftime deficit with an explosive second-half performance, outscoring the Monarchs 48-41 for its highest-scoring period of the season.

The Basics:
Score: N.C. Wesleyan 80, Methodist 76
Location/Venue: Fayetteville, NC / Riddle Center
Records: N.C. Wesleyan (11-8, 5-3 USA South), Methodist (5-12, 1-5 USA South)

For the first time this year, Wesleyan had two players eclipse the 20-point mark. Khalid Chavid-Hinds led the charge with a season-best 24 points and nine rebounds, showcasing his efficiency by making 11-of-12 free throws and six field goals. Justin Burden also posted his first 20-point performance of the season, finishing with 21 points and four rebounds while shooting 7-of-13 from the floor and 6-of-8 from the line.

Marquis Eskew added fourteen points on six made field goals, while Omari Bolden chipped in ten points, going a perfect 8-for-8 from the free-throw line. The Bishops' defensive intensity played a crucial role in the win, forcing fifteen turnovers, including key takeaways down the stretch that led to sixteen second-chance points and 22 fast-break points.

Wesleyan also dominated inside, scoring 34 points in the paint while getting valuable contributions from the bench, which accounted for 24 points. The Bishops shot just under 40% from the floor, but capitalized at the charity stripe, sinking 25 free throws at a 75.8% clip.

The game was a back-and-forth battle featuring ten ties and eight lead changes, but NCWU's resilience in the second half proved to be the difference as the Bishops secured another key USA South victory.

Up Next:

Men's basketball gets set for a big USA South showdown against Pfeiffer inside Everett Gymnasium on Saturday at 2:00 PM.