BLUEFIELD, Va. — The Methodist men's basketball team fell to The University of the Cumberlands, 69-55, in the second game of the Bowen Classic hosted by Bluefield College on Saturday afternoon.

Methodist slipped to 2-4 on the season with the loss, while the Patriots improved to 5-3 overall. 

Tabias Hilliard and Brandon Monk each scored 12 points to lead the Monarchs. Hilliard scored 11 of his 12 in the first half on 3-of-5 shooting from the floor and 4-of-4 shooting from the line. He also added a pair of assists in the first 20 minutes.

The Patriots broke an early 6-6 tie in the first period with a 7-0 run and didn't look back from there. Cumberland tok a 33-24 lead into halftime and after MU cut its deficit to two points (36-34) in the second half, used a 9-1 run to take a 45-35 lead with 11:39 left to play before extending its lead to as many as 22 down the stretch.

Methodist shot 45.0 percent (18-40) as a team, but committed 19 turnovers and was beaten on the boards, 45-29. Methodist held Cumberland to just 38.7 percent shooting (24-62) and saw the Patriots convert 51.9 percent (14-27) of their free-throw attempts. 

Monk added five rebounds for MU and finished 4-of-9 shooting on the day. Blake Davis scored seven points and grabbed three rebounds off the bench, and Jackson Whitley had six points and six boards. 

True Boutilier led all scorers with 15 points for the Patriots. Michael Dow chipped in 14 off the bench and Temjae Singleton totaled 13. Boutilier added 11 rebounds and two steals, and Xavier Owens had five points, seven rebounds and four assists.

Methodist next plays at Guilford on Wednesday beginning at 7:00 pm.

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