WINCHESTER, Va. - The third time was not a charm Saturday afternoon as Shenandoah University dropped its third overtime contest of the 2006-07 season in a 74-73 loss to Methodist University.

Methodist (11-13, 6-6 USA South) also earns the No. 4 seed with the win combined with Averett's victory over NC Wesleyan. The Cougars and Greensboro tie for the regular season title, with AU earning the No. 1 seed on a tie-breaker.

This means that Shenandoah (7-17, 1-11) will travel to Greensboro for a Tuesday first-round tournament game. This contest is set for a 7:30 start following the Greensboro women's contest against Peace.

The Hornets nearly won Saturday's contest by making up an eight-point deficit in the final 1:38 to tie the game at 67-67. Coach Robert Harris'club took two potentially game-winning three-point attempts, but both went long.

The second attempt, with five seconds left, was rebounded by senior Jeremiah Lawrence and followed by an SU time-out.

Point guard Lenzie Adams drove the lane coming out of the time-out, and dished to freshman Kris Scott on the backside for the game-tying layup as time expired.

The Monarchs won the overtime tip and eventually extended their advantage to four points with 25 seconds left. Shenandoah's final chance came with that four-point deficit - Kenny Robertson made the first of two free throws and Lawrence corralled the rebound of the second attempt.

Freshman Terryn Hamlett launched a three-pointer with three seconds left, but the attempt went off the front rim to Scott, who stuck it back as time expired.

Adams led all scorers with 26 points with Lawrence adding 11 points and 11 rebounds. He has 13 double-doubles this season.

Robertson had 14 points.

Robert Lee had 20, AB Lehmann 14 and Adrian Bascom 10 for MU.

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