NEWPORT NEWS, Va.  Teammates Garren Dearman and Dante Burden led Methodist's scoring efforts for the second day in a row -- and third consecutive game -- but the pair's exploits weren't enough Sunday as the Monarchs fell, 74-54, to Thomas More (Ky.) University in the third-place game of the CNU Tournament, hosted by Christopher Newport University.

Dearman -- named to the all-tournament team -- finished with 19 points and Burden with 11, one day after the duo notched 20 and 8, respectively, in a Saturday loss to host CNU.

THE ESSENTIALS
Final score: Thomas More def. Methodist, 74-54
Records: Methodist 1-4, Thomas More 3-3
Location: Freeman Center, Christopher Newport University, Newport News, Va.

HOW IT HAPPENED

• Methodist allowed the initial five points of the game but responded with the next five, tying things up with a Burden 3-pointer from the right wing.
• The Saints eventually moved in front by four, 11-7, after a tie at 7-7, only to have the advantage cut in half by a J'Quan Deal layup.
• Thomas More scored the next seven points, but Malik Manley converted a three-point play off a layup and successful free throw, again reversing what had been a growing deficit.
• A Damion King lifted the Saints to an eight-point advantage on the ensuing possession, and then Ryne Callahan drained 3-pointers on successive trips down the floor to extend the Thomas More lead to double digits for the first time in the non-conference contest.
• Dearman concluded a three-point play with a free throw after a driving layup to bring the deficit back into single digits, 33-24, but that would be the last time the Saints' lead would be less than 10 points for the rest of the game.
• Thomas More toted a 41-27 lead into second-half action but saw the advantage cut to 10 on a Dearman trey. Later in the half it would again be Dearman from long range that brought Methodist to within 10 points, at 54-44, but that would be answered by a 9-0 Thomas More run from which the Monarchs were unable to recover.

STAT STUFF

• On paper in many of the statistical categories, the 20-point disparity wouldn't be reflective of the figures.
• Thomas More would register just one more field goal than did Methodist. The Saint hit seven 3-pointers, but the Monarchs' six kept that statistical difference to a minimum.
• Methodist committed just one more turnover than the Saints, 16 to 15, and the difference in points scored off those turnovers -- 18 for TMU and 15 for the Monarchs -- was also a minimized difference.
• Rebounding was one of the telling statistics of which the Saints held a noticeable difference -- pulling down 39 compared to 28 by Methodist. The 13-5 difference in second-chance points was part of the final margin on the scoreboard.
• The greatest disparity on the stat sheet was at the free throw line. Though Methodist would be a perfect 4-for-4, that total number was far from the 28 trips the Saints made to the charity stripe. Their 21 successful free tosses was a 17-point difference that was too difficult for the Monarchs to overcome.
• Deal came away with 10 rebounds to tie for game-high honors off the glass.
• Thomas More's Callahan enjoyed a 5-for-10 afternoon from long range, helping lift him to a 24-point performance.
• Along with Callahan, three more of the Saints starters reached double figures in scoring.

ALL-TOURNAMENT TEAM

• Garren Dearman (Methodist)
• Ryne Callahan (Thomas More)
• Greg Parella (John Carroll University)
• Jason Aigner (Chris. Newport)
• Marcus Carter (Chris. Newport) - MVP

NEXT UP
Methodist begins USA South Athletic Conference play with its next game, traveling to Pfeiffer University in Misenheimer, N.C., for a 7:30 p.m. contest on Wednesday.