DEMOREST, Ga.  Garren Dearman became the first Monarch to put up 30 points this season as Methodist men's basketball overpowered host Piedmont College, 74-57, in USA South Athletic Conference Sunday afternoon.

Taking a 28-25 lead into halftime, Methodist came out firing on all cylinders to start the final period. The Monarchs scored the first 16 points in the second half to jump out to a commanding 44-25 lead.

After scoring 13 of the Monarchs' 28 points in the first half, Dearman outdid himself with 17 points in the final stanza. He finished with 30 on 12-of-20 shooting from the field and 5-of-10 from deep. He also added a team-high four steals in the game.

THE ESSENTIALS
Final score: Methodist def. Piedmont, 74-57
Records: Methodist 8-5 (4-1 USA South); Piedmont 7-5 (2-3)
Location: Cave Arena; Demorest, Ga.

HOW IT HAPPENED

• It was an impressive three and a half minute stretch that saw Methodist take the game. Dearman made two three-pointers off of the fastbreak while Sam Mingledoff and Kaymon Mitchell also added long range buckets during the run.
• The Lions cut the deficit from 19 points to 11 at the 12-minute mark but the Monarchs responded with a 13-1 run that featured two consecutive Dante Burden baskets followed by nine straight points from Dearman to make it a 23-point lead with the score at 59-36 at the seven-minute mark.
• An 8-0 run that featured six points from Burden gave the Monarchs a 29-point, 70-41 advantage, their largest lead of the game with under four minutes to play.
• The Lions ended the game on a 12-1 run to make the score closer than the game actually was.
• Watching the second half, you would be surprised to know that these two teams played to a near-draw in the first half. The first period featured seven lead changes with the final switch occurring after Dearman's layup broke a 17-17 tie with 5:30 left in the half. That layup was the first of six straight points from Dearman as the Monarchs' first period lead blossomed to eight before taking a three-point, 28-25 lead into half.

STAT FACTS

• While Piedmont owned a 26-15 advantage in points off of turnovers, Methodist had an even better edge in fastbreak points, 23-8.
• Burden was the only other Monarch to score in double-digits with 14 points on 5-of-10 shooting. He also added four rebounds and three steals.
• Calvin Manley finished just shy of a double-double with nine rebounds and eight points, plus three assists.
• Mingledoff had eight points and four rebounds while Malik Edwards led the bench unit with seven points and two steals.
• The Monarchs' offense turned up the heat in the second half, shooting 53 percent (17-of-32) from the field and 50 percent (7-of-14) from deep.

UP NEXT

• The Monarchs are home in the Riddle Center for the first time in 2020, January 11 against visiting William Peace University in conference action. Tip-off scheduled for 2 p.m.
• Piedmont is back at Cave Arena for the third of five consecutive home conference games, January 8 against visiting Covenant College at 7 p.m.