FLORENCE, S.C.  Though host Francis Marion University took Thursday evening's non-conference men's basketball contest, 110-63, at the Smith Center, it was Methodist's Dante Burden who paced all scorers with a game-high 27 points.

Burden hit nine buckets from the floor, but used powerful drives to the basket to draw fouls and earn chances at the charity stripe where he finished with a 9-for-10 night.

THE ESSENTIALS
Final score: Francis Marion def. Methodist, 110-63
Records: Methodist 1-2, Francis Marion 2-1
Location: Smith Center; Florence, S.C.

HOW IT HAPPENED

• The Patriots jumped on Methodist early, breaking out to a 20-point advantage by a third of the way through the opening half.
• Helping to create that, and the 55-31 halftime score's disparity were turnovers. Francis Marion forced 13 from Methodist in the half and capitalized on those miscues for 18 points.
• A portion of that point total came from a quick transition game by the Patriots who entered the break with 19 fast-break points.
• A slow start from the floor also made things difficult for Methodist. Early on it seemed as if nothing would find the inside of the rim, but the Monarchs improved throughout the half, and the remainder of the game, entering recess at 39 percent and finishing the game at 41 percent.
• Francis Marion -- a team that earned an at-large bid into the 2018 NCAA Division II national tournament -- powered its way to a commanding 57-28 advantage off the glass, further hampering Methodist's attempts to rally.

DIGGING INTO THE BOX

• 14 points from Garren Dearman aided Burden's game-high night. The duo combined for 41 of Methodist's 63 points.
• At one point in the game, Burden was a perfect 8-for-8 from the free-throw line.
• J'Quan Deal led Methodist in rebounds with five.
• Kailex Stephens, notching the double-double with 20 points and 14 rebounds, led six Patriots into double figure scoring during the victory.
• By the end of the contest, FMU had totaled 45 fast-break points.

NEXT UP
Methodist steps up another Division in its next game, an exhibition road contest Tuesday at D-I Coastal Carolina University. The next D-III game for the Monarchs will be Saturday, November 24 at Christopher Newport University in the two-day CNU Thanksgiving Tournament.