DEMOREST, Ga. -- Three Monarchs scored 20 or more points and the Methodist men's basketball team stood tall against a late run from Piedmont in earning an 85-79 win over the Lions on Saturday afternoon at Cave Arena.
 
Bryan Rouse (25), Jackson Whitley (21) and Davion Ayabarreno (20) all eclipsed the 20-point threshold an MU shot an even 50.0 percent (28-56) for the game in improving to 5-2 on the season and 1-0 in league play. Whitley added nine rebounds and four blocks as he continues to average a double-double on the season, and Rouse had six rebounds While Ayabarreno chipped in a pair of steals in the win.
 
The Monarchs seemed to have the game in hand after Bryan Rouse knocked down a pair of free throws with under five minutes to play that gave MU a 16-point cushion at 74-58. But a barrage of three pointers from the Lions (3-5, 2-2) pulled Piedmont to within a single bucket (79-77) with under a minute to play.
 
Marquise Lanier began the run with a triple, Miles Riley added a three-point play and Justin Vallejo posted back-to-back triples followed by another triple from Lanier as the PC pulled within two.
 
Following Laniers last three, Ayabarreno was sent to the line where he knocked down a pair of free throws for a four-point lead. A missed shot by the Lions on their next possession wound up in the hands of Ayabarreno, who knocked down two more charity tosses for a six-point lead. A second empty possession for Piedmont resulted in Whitley going to the line where he made good on a pair of free throws for an eight-point cushion.
 
A layup from Vallejo as time expired capped the day's scoring for either team.
 
While MU shot 50.0 percent for the game, Piedmont shot 47.1 percent (32-68) from the floor, but 48.0 percent (12-25) from three-point range. The Monarchs were also 77.8 percent (21-27) from the free throw line while PC was just 3 for 8 (.375) at the stripe. Methodist also held a 39-31 edge in rebounding.
 
Vallejo led all scorers with 27 points, and Lanier and Elijah Alston each scored 12. Alston also had a team-best seven rebounds, and Landry Assinesi added five assists.
 
Methodist returns to action on Sunday at 2 pm at Brevard.