FAYETTEVILLE, N.C.  In a game that serves as a tune-up ahead of the conference tournament, Methodist men's basketball took care of business against visiting Greensboro College, defeating the Pride, 98-84 in USA South Athletic Conference action Saturday afternoon.

Five Methodist players scored in double-digits, led by Dante Burden's 23 points. For the 11th time this season, Burden led the Monarchs in scoring. He shot 5-of-11 from the field and was a perfect four-for-four from downtown, a career-best. He also had a team-high five assists and four steals.

With just two more regular season matchups before the conference tournament, the Monarchs sit a half-game above William Peace for the second seed in the East Division. Methodist is peaking at the right time, having won four straight. The 98 points scored in the game is tied for the third-most this season. The top-five points totals this season for Methodist have all came in the 2020 calendar year.

THE ESSENTIALS
Final score: Methodist def. Greensboro, 98-84
Records: Methodist 14-9 (10-5 USA South); Greensboro 12-11 (6-9)
Event: Methodist Senior Day
Location: Riddle Center; Fayetteville, N.C.

HOW IT HAPPENED

• It did not take long for the Monarchs to find the hot hands. There was an early-game stretch that saw the Monarchs turn a 6-6 tie into a 24-14 lead. The Monarchs scored 18 points on six threes. Andrew Steve started the trend by breaking the tie, followed by a fastbreak corner three from John Baker, and then three consecutive threes from Burden before Garren Dearman added the sixth for the 10-point lead.
• After the Pride cut the deficit to 53-51 at the 13-minute mark, the Monarchs showed championship mettle by stepping on the gas to take full control of the game. Two plays from Sam Mingledoff were especially important to shifting the tides. His steal and fastbreak layup was a potential four or five-point swing and he followed it up with a three in the next offensive possession. That three, which gave the Monarchs a 62-51 lead, seized all the momentum for Methodist and served as the early dagger for the Pride. The Pride never got within eight points of the lead after those two buckets.
• The Monarchs did not ever let up, going on a late 7-0 run to make it a 79-60 game, their largest lead of the contest.

SENIOR DAY
Before the game, Methodist honored six seniors from the men's basketball— John Baker, Andrew Steve, Malik Edwards, Kaymon Mitchell, Sam Mingledoff, and Calvin Manley.

STAT FACTS

• In his final regular season game in the Riddle Center, Manley earned his first career double-double with 13 rebounds and 11 points.
• Mingledoff's 16 points in this game were a season-high. He also added six rebounds and two steals.
• Baker continued his late-season surge with 10 points and two steals. He now has 26 points in the past two games after scoring 26 points in the previous 15 games combined.
• Dearman finished behind Burden with 17 points on five-of-nine shooting and three-of-six from deep.
• The 41 free throw attempts, plus 34 makes represents a season's best for Methodist.
• Kevon Meertins led Greensboro with 21 points.

UP NEXT

• The Monarchs have a chance to avenge a February 1 home loss to Averett by defeating the Cougars Tuesday, February 18 in Danville, Virginia at 7:30 p.m.
• On the outside of the postseason looking in at the moment, Greensboro is hoping to earn the home win when North Carolina Wesleyan comes to town, February 18 at 7:30 p.m.