Men's Basketball | 11/16/2008 4:48:24 PM

FAYETTEVILLE, N.C. - The Monarchs finished the opening weekend of the 2008-09 season with a 81-55 loss to Guilford College.

Methodist (0-2) hung with the Quakers (1-0) early, but Guilford cruised to the win in large part due to their presence on the boards.  Guilford scored the first six points of the game but Methodist sophomore Leland Jones helped the Monarchs cut the lead to 10-7 on a layup with 16:38 to go in the first half.  Methodist was within two points two minutes later, but Guilford came back and led by as many as 18 in the half.  Jones finished the half with two free throws for the Monarchs but Guilford led 43-29 at halftime.

Guilford extended their lead in the second half by pounding the boards including 13 points in the paint.  The Quakers finished with 52 rebounds to the Monarchs' 29.  Guilford finished out with the 81-55 win for their first of the season.

Freshman Mark Jernigan led the Monarchs with 12 points while senior #A.B. Lehmann# added 10 points.  Jones led the team with nine rebounds.

Methodist will compete in the N.C. Wesleyan Tip-Off Classic Nov. 21-22.

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