BREVARD, N.C.  Methodist men's basketball put up an impressive display of offense as the Monarchs scored a season-high 91 points in a win over host Brevard College, 91-71, in USA South Athletic Conference action Saturday afternoon to kick off the 2020 calendar year.

As a team, the Monarchs shot a ridiculous 63.2 percent (36-of-57) from the field. That percentage is the most in a game by Methodist in over a decade. The Monarchs also shot 56.3 percent (9-of-16) from behind the arc, a new season-high.

Plus, all five starters scored in double-digits for Methodist, led by 21 points from Garren Dearman. Dearman shot a very efficient 8-of-13 from the field and four-of-six from deep.

THE ESSENTIALS
Final score: Methodist def. Brevard, 91-71
Records: Methodist 7-5 (3-1 USA South); Brevard 2-9 (1-3)
Location: Boshamer Gymnasium; Brevard, N.C.

HOW IT HAPPENED

• The Monarchs force teams to pay for turning the ball over and today was no different. Methodist outscored Brevard, 34-16, in points off of turnovers. The Monarchs had a 45-26 halftime advantage, thanks mostly to a 18-1 differential in points off of turnovers.
• An early 11-0 Methodist run gave the Monarchs a 22-7 lead at the 10-minute mark of the first half. Methodist led by as many as 21 points after dagger threes from Sam Mingledoff, Dearman, John Baker, and Giovanni Thompson in the opening stanza.
• After a Brevard three-pointer cut the lead to 54-44, Dearman responded with a trey-ball of his own. His basket was the start of a 16-4 run to eliminate any hopes of a Tornados' miracle with Methodist leading 70-48. In the middle of that run was 11 consecutive points from the Monarchs.
• Brevard never managed to cut its deficit under 14 points after Dearman's three with 14 minutes remaining to play.

STAT FACTS

• Methodist also owned a 22-11 advantage in fastbreak points.
• It was Dearman's third 20-point game of the season.
• Kevin McLaughlin Jr. had 15 points on five-of-seven shooting and two-of-four from long range. He also had a team-high four steals.
• Dante Burden finished with 13 points, five assists, and four rebounds.
• Mingledoff had 12 points, six rebounds, and three assists while Kaymon Mitchell also had 12 points, doing so on four-of-five shooting.
• Derrick Newberry made his first extended appearance on the court this season. Newberry did so against his former school as he transferred to Methodist from Brevard College. He did make the most of his time too, notching a balanced statline of four points, three rebounds, three steals, and two assists in 15 minutes.
• Cannon Lamb led the Tornados with 27 points and nine rebounds.

NEXT UP

• It is a quick turnaround for Methodist as they travel to Demorest, Ga., January 5 to play Piedmont College at 2 p.m.
• Brevard is back in action December 8  on the road against Berea College at 7:30 p.m.