MARIETTA, Ohio — The Methodist men's basketball team dropped a 79-64 decision at 11th-ranked Marietta on Friday evening at Ban Johnson Arena.

The Pioneers (3-0) used a 14-0 run over a 5:25 stretch of the first half to turn a 23-17 lead to a 37-17 lead with under a minute in the first half en route to a 37-19 lead at the break.

Davion Ayabarreno's layup at the 6:22 mark of the opening period cut MU's (1-2) to six points at 23-17. Marietta responded by hitting on each of its next six shots from the floor, including a pair of three pointers, and holding MU to 0-of-5 shooting with four turnovers to take a 37-17 lead. Brandon Monk broke the Monarchs' drought with a bucket at the 57-second mark to cap the first-half scoring.

A.J. Edwards led the Pioneers with 11 points in the first half on 5-of-11 shooting. Luis Garcia added nine points hitting 3-of-4 shots from beyond the arc. 

In the second half, Marietta used a 10-0 run to turn a 60-41 lead into a 70-41 advantage with 6:34 to play before a late 16-2 MU surge, capped by a Troynell Reese free throw made it 72-57 with 2:38 on the clock. The 15-point deficit would stand at the end of the contest. 

Methodist shot just 38.7 percent (24-62) from the floor to Marietta's 40.3 percent (31-77). The Pioneers held big edge in three-point shooting, hitting 12-of-27 attempts (.444), while MU was just 2-of-17 (.118) from distance. The Monarchs out rebounded Marietta, 45-42, but committed 16 turnovers to the Pioneers' five.

Tabias Hilliard led the Monarchs with 14 points on 7-of-14 shooting. Ayabarreno chipped in 10 points, while Monk tallied seven points and six rebounds. 

Edwards and Garcia finished with 16 and 14 points, respectively. Brennan McKean added eight points and six rebounds, and Eddy Grenert had five points and six rebounds.

The Monarchs will take on LaRoche on Saturday on the final day of the 45th Annual Shrine Tournament. Larch fell to Catholic, 84-65, in Friday's first contest.

—