Box Score

DANVILLE, Va. — After a sluggish start, Averett rallied in the second half to beat Methodist University 77-66 on Sunday in both teams' USA South Conference opener at the Grant Center.

Averett (4-5, 1-0 USA South) came out flat to open the game, which helped Methodist (1-6, 0-1 USA South) take as much as a 17-point lead in the first half. Yet, the Cougars weathered the storm and trimmed the Monarchs' lead down to 42-34 by halftime.

Although the second half got out to a rocky start — Averett was forced to use a timeout 10 seconds into the half — the Cougars opened the period with a 6-0 run to trim the deficit to just two points. Methodist held Averett off until the Cougars tied the game at 51-51 on senior Justin Pierce's 3-pointer with 7:55 to play.

Averett took its first lead of the game when sophomore Sunil Ram found Pierce soaring to the basket for a mid-air jumper to put the Cougars in front 57-55 with 6:13 left. Averett never relinquished the lead as the Cougars beat Methodist's fullcourt press and hit their free throws down the stretch to win their final game of the 2012 calendar year.

Pierce, who scored a career-high 37 points a day earlier, finished with 34 points against Methodist. Senior Marquis Scott added 15 points and seven rebounds and junior Paul Porter scored 10 points.

James Whitehead led Methodist with 18 points.

Averett returns to action on Jan. 2 when they begin a three-game conference road trip starting with Maryville College.