FAYETTEVILLE, N.C. -- The 12th-ranked Marlins of Virginia Wesleyan used a 22-6 run over a six-minute stretch in the first half to defeat the Methodist men's basketball team, 89-71, on Tuesday evening at the March F. Riddle Center.
 
After Austin Pack cut the Monarchs' deficit to four points (16-12) with a short jump shot at the 12:06 mark of the first half, the Marlins (4-0) embarked on the aforementioned 22-6 run to assume a 38-18 lead with 6:00 left in the first half.
 
Nick Doyle, one of seven different VWC players to score during the spurt, started it with a three pointer, and Brandon Mitchell and Tim Jones knocked down consecutive jumpers for a 23-14 lead with 10:10 left in the first half. Greg Montgomery scored six of Virginia Wesleyan's final eight points during decisive run.
 
VWC shot 7-of-8 from the field and 2-of-2 from the line during the game-clinching stretch, while MU shot 3-of-6 from the field and turned the ball over six times.
 
Methodist answered with a brief 5-0 spurt to pull within 15 points (38-23) by the 3:36 mark, but VWC pushed back out to a 22-point lead and ultimately led by 18 points at the half (45-27). In the opening 20 minutes, the Marlins shot 59.3 percent (16-27) from the field, including hitting 5-of-11 shots from beyond the arc (.455). Methodist a respectable 47.6 percent (10-21) from the floor, but was 0-of-3 from long range and got outrebounded, 15-8.
 
In the second half, the Monarchs cut their deficit to 15 points (72-57) on a long three pointer by T.J. Gill with 6:20 on the clock, but a 15-4 run by Virginia Wesleyan extended its lead to 26 points (87-61) with 3:03 to play and the Marlins coasted to the win.
 
For the game, both teams shot well with VWC coming in at a 52.4 percent mark (33-63), while MU shot 52.3 percent (23-44). The Marlins hit 8-of-24 triples (.333) compared to 3-of-8 for Methodist (.375), and VWC outrebounded MU, 32-23, including 13-6 on the offensive end.
 
The Monarchs were led by Gill, who scored a game-high 21 points. He was 6-of-10 from the floor, and 2-of-4 from beyond the arc. Mike Major added 16 points on 5-of-11 shooting. Major also had a team-best four rebounds, and Davion Ayabarreno had three assists.
 
Virginia Wesleyan had five players in double figures, led by Montgomery's 20 points. Cameron Owens had 17 points, 12 coming in the first half, and Khory Moore (15), Brandon Mitchell (11), and Lyons (10) also eclipsed 10 points. Montgomery also pulled down seven rebounds, and Moore had five assists and four steals.
 
Methodist returns to the court on Wednesday when it hosts Guilford at 7:00 pm.