FAYETTEVILLE, N.C. -- The Methodist men's basketball team erupted for 60 first-half points and hit a season-high nine three pointers in cruising to a 112-92 win over LaGrange on Sunday afternoon at the March F. Riddle Center on Sunday afternoon.
 
The Monarchs (13-3, 8-1 USA South) shot 23 of 39 from the floor in the first half (.539), including 7 of 15 (.450) from long range in racing out to a 60-28 lead by halftime. The 112 points scored by MU marked the Monarchs' highest point total since a 117-point outburst against Ramapo on Dec. 6, 2009.
 
The tide turned when MU rattled off a 16-0 run to turn an 18-17 lead into a 34-17 lead by the 9:03 mark. Davion Ayabarreno, who scored a game-high 27 points, started the run with a short jumper and Garren Dearman followed with a triple following a shot clock violation by LaGrange (8-7, 4-4). Following successive empty possessions, MU scored on four straight trips down the court, punctuated by an emphatic dunk from Jackson Whitley for a 32-17 lead with 9:35 on the clock. Ayabarreno capped the run when he hauled in an offensive rebound and converted in traffic.
 
With the lead still standing at 17 points (38-21) at the 7:35 mark, the Monarchs closed the period on a 22-7 run for the aforementioned lead at the break. Rae Hall scored eight points during the run, including a pair of triples, and Dante Jackson converted the final points of the half just before the buzzer.
 
Following Duncan Parker's layup at 12:43 that pulled LC within 18-17 in the first half, the Monarchs held the Panthers to 3 of 19 shooting with seven turnovers the remainder of the first half.
 
Methodist's lead stretched to as many as 38 points (72-34) in the second half and it fell below 20 points on just two occasions.
 
For the game, the Monarchs shot 53.9 percent from the floor (41-76), including 9 of 20 (.450) from long range. LaGrange finished at 42.5 percent (31-73) from the floor for and 64.1 percent (25-39) from the line. The Monarchs held a 47-37 edge on the glass and totaled a season-best 19 assists.
 
Ayabarreno shot 10 of 16 from the field and added 10 rebounds and seven assists in narrowly missing a triple-double. Hall and Troynell Reese each scored 12 points, and Bryan Rouse added 11. Whitely had 11 rebounds with five blocked shots, and Demetrius Everett, Dearman and Jackson all scored eight points as every player on the MU roster made the scoring column.
 
Alex Bonner led LaGrange with 27 points, and Julian Cameron and Jamison McCray each scored 14. Travis Thompson netted 12 points. Michael McCauley pulled down a team-high 11 rebounds and Bonner added three assists.
 
Methodist plays host to Pfeiffer on Wednesday beginning at 7:30 pm.