SEWANEE, Tenn. -- Bryan Rouse scored a career-high 26 points and the Methodist men's basketball team held off a late charge from Oglethorpe in posting an 80-66 win over the Stormy Petrels at Sewanee University on Saturday evening.
 
Rouse, one of three Monarchs to score in double figures, was 11 of 19 from the floor and added five assists and six steals. Davion Ayabarreno chipped in 21 points on 8 of 17 shooting and pulled down six boards, while Victor Grayer chipped in a career-best 11 points off the bench. Jackson Whitley pulled down 12 rebounds and added seven points.
 
The Monarchs (1-0), who led the entire contest, saw an 18-point second-half lead (66-48) trimmed to eight points (72-64) with under three minutes to play. After the Stormy Petrels had cut the deficit to eight, Ayabarreno came up short on a three-point attempt, but Rouse was able to track down the loose ball and get it back to Ayabarreno, who was fouled and converted a pair of free throws to push the lead back to 10.
 
Rouse added a layup and dunk down the stretch, while Whitley chipped in a pair of free throws as MU held on for the win.
 
Methodist opened play quickly, jumping out to a 28-9 lead by the 9:54 mark of the first half. Oglethorpe came back with a 22-8 run to pull within 36-31 by the 4:08 mark, however. The Green and Gold led 46-39 at the break.
 
The second half began much the way the first half did as MU started quick and went up 55-40 on an Ayabarreno jumper with 15:11 to play. The Monarchs' lead remained in double digits until a Chris Lawrence three with 3:51 to play made it 70-62.
 
As a team, the Monarchs shot 51.7 percent (31-60) from the floor, 41.2 percent (7-17) from beyond the arc and 78.6 percent (11-14) from the charity stripe. MU also committed just 13 turnovers and out rebounded Oglethorpe by a 40-28 margin.
 
Justin Hughes led the Petrels with 18 points, and Will Perry notched 15 points and eight rebounds.
 
Methodist will now take on Sewanee on Sunday at 3 pm.