LYNCHBURG, Va. -- Behind Bryan Rouse and Davion Ayabarreno, the Methodist men's basketball team rallied from a 14-point deficit in the second half to pick up an 86-81 win at Lynchburg on Saturday afternoon at Turner Gymnasium.
 
Ayabarreno finished with a season-best 26 points and 11 rebounds for his first double-double of the season, and Rouse chipped in 24 points while the duo keyed a second-half rally as MU improved to 3-1 on the season. Jackson Whitley added 20 points and eight boards, while Dante Jackson had five assists.
 
The Hornets (3-1) turned a close affair in the second half into the makings of a runaway as they used a 19-8 run to extend a three-point lead (54-51) into a 14-point bulge (73-59) with 8:43 on the clock. Immediately following the run, Rouse drilled a long two for MU and quickly followed with a triple.
 
A free throw from Ayabarreno was followed by another Rouse triple and a jumper from Ayabarreno as MU close to within 75-70. Two more free throws from Ayabarreno and a short jumper courtesy of Troynell Reese inched MU to within a single point at 75-74.
 
A brief run by LC gave the hosts an 80-74 lead with 4:31 on the clock, but a pair of buckets from Ayabarreno sandwiched around a Whitley free throw pulled the Monarchs to within 80-79 and prompted an MU timeout.
 
Out of the timeout, a steal and dunk in transition by Reese gave MU its first lead of the second half at 81-80 and Ayabarreno socred MU's final five points as the Green and Gold remained perfect against Div. III opponents this season.
 
As a team, MU shot 42.9 percent (27-63) from the field, including an even 50.0 percent (15-30) in the second period. Lynchburg shot 42.4 percent (28-66) from the floor, including 10 of 26 (.385) from long range. Methodist held a decided edge at the line, hitting on 26 of 31 (.839) free throw attempts compared to 65.2 percent (15-23) for the Hornets. MU also forced 18 turnovers and committed just 11.
 
Chance Greene led LC with 21 points and five assists, while Devante' Young and Connor Schroeder added 11 and 10 points, respectively. Schroeder and Austin Wrighten each had seven rebounds, and Wrighten added six dimes.
 
Methodist is back in action next Saturday when it hosts Roanoke at 4 pm.