HIGH POINT, N.C. -- The Methodist men's basketball team returned from its Christmas break with a 96-50 loss at Division I High Point on Monday evening.
 
The Panthers (9-4) shot 54.7 percent from the floor (35-64) and held MU (4-6) to 37.8 percent shooting (17-45) for the game. HPU had a slight edge on the boards (34-30), and recorded 26 assists on its 35 made baskets.
 
High Point took control of the game thanks to 56.8 percent shooting in the first half en route to a 52-24 lead at intermission. The Panthers used a 23-3 run over a nearly nine-minute stretch to stretch a 12-8 lead to a 35-11 advantage by the 7:26 mark.
 
Jackson Whitley led the Monarchs with 10 points on perfect 4-for-4 shooting. Davion Ayabarreno, Brandon Monk, and Irving Aughburns all scored eight points. Ayabarreno led MU with five rebounds and added a pair of assists.
 
Tarique Thompson led HPU with 18 points. Justin White and Andre Fox each scored 15 points, John Brown had 12, and Ricky Madison chipped in 11 as five different Panthers scored at least 10 points. Thompson also had six rebounds, and Adam Weary and Jorge Perez-Laham each had four assists.
 
Methodist opens up play in 2015 Washington and Lee Holiday Tournament on Tuesday at 4:00 pm when it takes on the host Generals at 4:00 pm.