FERRUM, Va.  The dynamic duo of Dante Burden (21 points) and Kaymon Mitchell (19 points) combined for 40 of the Monarchs' 70 points as Methodist men's basketball downed host Ferrum College, 70-64, for a non-conference victory Wednesday evening.

The Monarchs never trailed after the opening 3:01 of the game and they led by as much as 14 points in the first half. The second half was a different story, too close for comfort as even though Methodist never trailed, they also never led by more than six points and had just a one-point (65-64) lead with 2:17 remaining in the game.

THE ESSENTIALS
Final score: Methodist def. Ferrum, 70-64
Records: Methodist 2-0, Ferrum 0-1
Location: Swartz Gym; Ferrum, Va.

HOW IT HAPPENED

• The moment of the game belongs to Mitchell. Ahead by two points with 1:09 on the clock, Mitchell blocked James Smith Jr.'s layup near the baseline, corralled the rebound, and drew the foul seven seconds later. Mitchell made one-of-two free throws to extend the lead to three.
• Rashad Reed's layup with 2:17 left made it a one-point, 65-64 Methodist lead. Two potential go-ahead Ferrum baskets, including a missed three-pointer from Reed followed before Burden extended it to a two-point game.
• From the 18th minute-mark to the two-minute mark in the second half, the Monarchs flirted with leads as large as six points and as small as three. Six times, Methodist was able to build their advantage to six points but Ferrum answered back with a bucket every time.
• After Methodist retook the lead for the final time early in the first half, the Monarchs went on a 15-2 run over five minutes to make the score 22-8, their largest lead of the game. Buried in that scoring run was consecutive Burden three-pointers, plus a trey-ball from Kevin McLaughlin Jr.
• Panthers stormed back late in the first half, embarking on a 10-0 run to cut their deficit to 35-32 entering halftime. Kajuan Madden-McAfee started and finished the run with made three-balls.
• A Garren Dearman layup with 16:59 left in the first half gave the Monarchs their final lead of the game when the score was still 7-6.
• The final minute of the game saw the Panthers commit two turnovers and miss two shots behind the arc as their comeback rally failed.

STAT FACTS

• Burden scored 10 of his team's first 22 points. He finished with the 21 on near-perfect seven-of-eight shooting, including two-for-two behind the arc. His six assists and six rebounds were also team-highs.
• Mitchell was efficient too, scoring his 19 points on 7-of-11 shooting.
• Dearman registered seven points and six rebounds while Malik Edwards' four assists were second on the team.
• While the Monarchs boasted a 16-6 edge in points off turnovers and a 16-8 edge in assists, the Panthers held the advantage in both second chance points (17-7) and points in the paint (40-24), including 28 in the second half alone.
• Reed finished with a Panthers-high of 15 points while Marcus Plair almost notched a double-double with 11 points and nine rebounds.

UP NEXT
The Monarchs are in Lynchburg, Virginia, Saturday and Sunday to take part in the 2019 Wayne Proffitt Classic. Methodist has non-conference dates with Hampden-Sydney on Saturday at 4 p.m. and then Lynchburg at 3 p.m. on Sunday.