NEWPORT NEWS, Va.  Garren Dearman scored 20 and Kaymon Mitchell ripped down 10 rebounds, game highs for each, but Methodist came out on the short end, 73-59, to host Christopher Newport University Saturday evening on the opening day of the CNU Tournament.

THE ESSENTIALS
Final scores: CNU def. Methodist, 73-59; John Carroll University def. Thomas More University, 79-74
Records: Methodist 1-3; CNU 3-0; John Carroll 3-0; Thomas More 2-3
Location: Freeman Center; Newport News, Va.

HOW IT HAPPENED

• Mitchell dropped in a pair of free throws to narrow an early deficit to just four, 17-13, but the Captains ran off nine unanswered points for a cushion that rarely lessoned over the remainder of the contest.
• Twice, Methodist cut the CNU lead down to eight during the final minutes of first-half action. Dearman hit a driving layup and converted a free-throw for an old-fashioned three-point play that made the score 26-18. Soon after, J'Quan Deal hit a jumper that again made the difference eight points, at 28-20.
• Trailing by double digits at the halftime break, 34-24, it was the Monarchs that rattled the cage first in the early moments of the second half as Sam Mingledoff hit a jumper that made it an eight-point game once again. But that would be the final time the deficit would be single digits.
• Methodist got off to a great start in the game, opening up a quick 4-0 lead. Dante Burden came down with a defensive rebound off CNU's opening shot, and raced downcourt for a fast-break layup that opened the scoring. A Mingledoff steal on the ensuing Captains possession turned into a short jumper by Mitchell off a dish from Burden.

BOX IT UP

• Dearman was 6-of-15 from the floor and added an 8-for-10 night from the charity stripe.
• Mitchell added five points to his first double-digit rebounding performance of the season.
• The team's season leader in scoring, Burden scored eight points for the Monarchs while also coming away with four rebounds and doling out five assists.
• The battle off the glass was even as the Captains finished with only a 42-41 edge, and a 12-11 advantage in second-chance points.
• Contributing to the difference on the scoreboard was CNU's 41 percent night from the floor,compared to a 32 percent game from Methodist, and the seven 3-pointers the Captains dropped in from long range.
• Marcus Carter led CNU with 19 points and eight rebounds, and Jason Aigner added 16 points, which included a 4-for-9 night from behind the arc.

NEXT UP

• Methodist takes on Thomas More in Sunday's 12 p.m. consolation game of the tournament.
• CNU squares off against John Carroll for the tournament title at 4 p.m.