Men's Basketball | 1/25/2014 7:17:00 PM

Box Score FAYETTEVILLE, N.C. -- Bryan Hockaday recorded his 11th double-double of the season, and the Methodist men's basketball team used a game-opening 21-2 scoring run to cruise past Greensboro, 82-62, on Saturday afternoon at the Riddle Center.
 
The Monarchs (7-10, 5-2 USA South) opened the game 9-of-14 from the field, while limiting the Pride (6-11, 2-5 USA South) to 0-of-8 shooting from the field with three turnovers in taking a 21-2 lead on a three-pointer by Tabias Hilliard at the 12:33 mark. Hilliard scored eight points on 3-of-4 shooting during the run. Devan Gregory made GC's first field goal when he connected on a jump shot at the 12:20 mark to make it a 21-4 game in favor of MU.
 
The Monarchs' lead stood at 17 points (29-12) following a layup by Austin Saunders at the 7:35 mark before GC's offense began to show signs of life. A pair of free throws by the Pride made it a 29-14 ballgame. Jacob Thomas then hit three consecutive three-pointers in a 14-6 GC run that trimmed MU's lead to single digits (35-26) at the 3:35 mark. However, the Monarchs closed the opening half on an 8-1 run, including a three-pointer from Keith Corbett with two seconds remaining, to take a 43-27 lead into the break.
 
In the first half, MU shot 48.6 percent from the field (18-37) and 55.6 percent from beyond the arc (5-9). Methodist limited Greensboro to 36.0 percent shooting from the floor (9-25) and outrebounded GC, 26-11, in the opening 20 minutes.
 
Methodist never allowed Greensboro to pull any closer and stretched out its lead to as many as 28 points in winning for the fifth time in six games. For the game, MU shot 44.0 percent from the field (33-75) and posted a season-high 41.7 mark from three-point range (5-12). Methodist limited GC to 39.6 percent shooting (21-53) from the floor and outrebounded the Pride, 51-31.
 
Hockaday scored a game-high 21 points and pulled down a game-high 13 rebounds. Hilliard added 18 points, five board and four assists. Corbett chipped in 13 points, eight rebounds and two steals, and Desmond Parker had 12 points and eight rebounds. Chris Vinson dished out a career-high seven assists.
 
For Greensboro, Gregory scored a team-best 20 points on 7-of-13 shooting. Thomas added 12 points off the bench, and Hamilton Hawkins had seven points, four rebounds and a pair of assists.
 
Methodist is back in action on Wednesday at N.C. Wesleyan beginning at 7:30 pm.