BREVARD, N.C. -- Davion Ayabarreno scored 24 points and became the 22nd player in Methodist men's basketball history to reach the 1,000 point milestone as MU defeated Brevard 90-82 on Sunday afternoon.
 
Ayabarreno entered needing just three points for 1,000 in his career and he reached the mark on a layup with 15:14 left in the first half. He also pulled down 10 rebounds for a double-double. Jackson Whitley had a double-double of 24 points and 12 rebounds to go with five assists and a pair of steals. Bryan Rouse scored 17 points with four assists and Troynell Reese added 14 points and six rebounds.
 
Midway through the first half, the Monarchs (6-2) got six straight points from Whitley to take their largest lead of the period at 33-23. However, a 14-4 run by the Tornados (1-6) pulled the teams even at 37-37 with 2:43 on the clock.
 
Whitley answered with a three for MU followed by an Ayabarreno layup and two free throws from Rae Hall to put the Green and Gold back up 44-37 before another BC run to close out the half gave the home team a 45-44 lead at intermission.
 
A dunk by Whitley early in the second half put MU on top for good at 50-49 and the Monarchs would stretch their lead out to as many as eight points (72-64) with 5:58 to play before one last surge from the Tornados.
 
Brevard cut its deficit to 76-73 with just under four minutes left. Rouse answered with a three of his own for MU before another triple from the Tornados kept it a three-point game. Rouse hit another three and followed that with a pair of free throws to make it 84-76 in favor of MU and Ayabarreno closed out the game making six straight free throws.
 
As a team, the Monarchs shot a scintillating 61.4 percent (35-57) from the floor and 83.3 percent (15-18) from the line while holding Brevard to 46.2 percent (30-65) shooting. The Tornados did knock down 14 of 29 three-point attempts. Methodist also held a 37-24 edge on the glass.
 
Divese Carson led Brevard with 22 points, including 6 of 10 shooting from long range. Levi Lamb added 16, Stevie Williams 15 and JaMarquis Johnson 14. Williams also had a team-best five rebounds and six assists.
 
Methodist will host Greensboro on Wednesday at 7:30 pm.
 
 
 
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