FAYETTEVILLE, N.C. Behind a combined 38 points from Kaymon Mitchell and Dante Burden, Methodist men's basketball scored a season-high 86 points to put away visiting Huntingdon College, 86-75, on Tuesday afternoon to earn its first victory in USA South Athletic Conference play this season.

There were six lead changes and two tie scores before the Monarchs ran away with the game late in the final half. Despite the close, back-and-forth affair, Methodist was in the lead for more than 37 minutes of game time, compared to just one minute in the lead for Huntingdon.

In this game, the Monarchs set numerous season-highs, including field goal percentage (53%), three-point percentage (37%), field goals made (33), three-pointers made (10), and assists (25).

Dante Burden led the way for Methodist, putting up a Russell Westbrook-esque statistics line of 19 points, eight rebounds, eight assists and three steals, leading the team in each of those categories.

THE ESSENTIALS
Final score: Methodist def. Huntingdon, 86-75
Records: Methodist 4-4 (1-1 USA South), Huntingdon 3-6 (1-2)
Location: Riddle Center; Fayetteville, N.C.

HOW IT HAPPENED

• At the 16-minute mark, the Hawks grabbed their first lead after an Aaron Washington 3-pointer put them up 46-44. That advantage lasted all of 10 seconds before Burden answered with a layup to tie, followed soon after by a Burden assist to Mitchell to retake the lead, 48-46.
• The two teams traded baskets and with under 10 minutes to play, the Monarchs were holding a very slim 58-57 advantage. Two consecutive three-pointers from Garren Dearman and Malik Edwards ballooned that lead to seven. Methodist never looked back as those long-range bombs were part of a larger 12-2 run that gave the Monarchs a commanding 70-59 edge with under four minutes remaining.
• After Calvin Manley opened the second half with a jumper to give Methodist an eight-point advantage, the Hawks used a 9-2 run to close the gap to 41-40.
• Seeing an early 10-point first-half lead dwindle altogether, Methodist gained some breathing room, taking a 37-31 lead into halftime after a three from Burden with 37 seconds left in the period followed by a block and a basket from Giovanni Thompson right as time expired in the first period.
• Ceaunte Zachery gave Huntingdon its first lead at 27-26, punctuating an early 8-0 run to climb back into the game. 

STAT FACTS

• Mitchell had 19 on 9-of-11 shooting with six rebounds and three assists.
• Sam Mingledoff added 11 points to go along with two assists and two steals while Kevin McLaughlin Jr. had 10 points, two steals, and two assists off the bench.
• Dearman finished with nine points, seven assists, and three steals.
• The win comes despite Methodist getting outrebounded 46-32 by the Hawks. Huntingdon even corralled 26 offensive boards and turned those into 22 second chance points versus just six for the Monarchs. Likewise, Methodist defeated the Hawks in transition, outscoring Huntingdon, 23-11 in fast-break points.
• Another area that could have been a concern was the foul discrepancy. The Monarchs were awarded 13 free throw shots and made 10, including the six attempts that came off of intentional fouls in the final minute. Vice versa, the Hawks were awarded 23 free throws but could not capitalize, only making 13 and going 56 percent from the charity stripe. At halftime, the discrepancy was 12 Hawks' free throws to one free throw for Methodist.
• Four Hawks scored in double-digits led by Caleb Tony's 13 points and nine rebounds.

UP NEXT

• The turnaround is quick for Methodist as LaGrange comes into town Wednesday, December 18 to play the Monarchs in conference action in the Riddle Center at 3:30 p.m.
• Huntingdon is back on the road again, traveling to Averett Wednesday, December 18 to play the Cougars at 1 p.m. CST.