MISENHEIMER, N.C.  Methodist men's basketball returned the favor to Pfeiffer University by defeating the host Falcons in their own gymnasium, 104-93, Saturday afternoon in USA South Athletic Conference play. 

Three minutes was all the difference in this game. With three minutes left in the first half and the game tied at 48, the Monarchs went on an 11-0 run right before the end of the half to take a 59-48 lead into the break. The two teams played to a dead draw through the other 57 minutes even though at one point Methodist led by 16 points late and Pfeiffer led by as many as 11 early.

Dante Burden scored a season-high 29 points on 9-of-14 shooting from the field. He finished with seven rebounds and three assists. Kaymon Mitchell scored 25 points, tying his career-high mark. He was 9-of-14 shooting and added six rebounds and a career-high four assists.

THE ESSENTIALS
Final score: Methodist def. Pfeiffer, 104-93
Records: Methodist 12-9 (8-5 USA South); Pfeiffer 11-9 (6-6)
Location: Merner Gym; Misenheimer, N.C.

HOW IT HAPPENED

• Six straight possessions. Six straight baskets. It started with John Baker's three to cut the deficit to 46-44 and ended with an energizing Garren Dearman dunk to put Methodist ahead 54-48 late in the first half. Sandwiched in-between those two buckets were three made field goals from Burden.
• Both teams shot the same percentage from the field (57.4 percent) but the Monarchs were afforded 21 more shots (68) than Pfeiffer (47). Rebounding and ball control were big factors as Methodist outrebounded the Falcons, 33-32, and committed only six turnovers to Pfeiffer's 16.
• The Falcons used an 8-0 run to break away from an early 8-8 tie to push ahead 16-8. Pfeiffer subscribes by the idea of "live by the three, die by the three," evidenced by a string of four made three-pointers to take a 31-23 lead.
• Methodist was not able to tie the game until Kevin McLaughlin Jr. knocked down consecutive threes to turn a five-point disadvantage into a 41-41 tie at the four-minute mark.
• Six straight points from Burden gave the Monarchs a 75-59 edge with 13 minutes remaining. The Falcons never came within eight points of the lead in the second half.

STAT FACTS

• This game stands as the most points in regulation this season and just the second time this year the Monarchs have topped triple digits. It may not be a coincidence that it was also against Pfeiffer that the Monarchs scored a season-high 110 points. On January 21, the Falcons defeated the Monarchs 112-110 in double overtime in the Riddle Center.
• The Monarchs had a ridiculous 58-24 edge in points in the paint. The 11-point difference in this game is also exhibited by a 20-9 Methodist advantage in points off of turnovers, a 16-5 edge in fastbreak points, and a 14-5 lead in second chance points.
• At halftime, Burden looked like he was heading towards a career-day after scoring 18 on seven-of-nine shooting through the first 20 minutes. 
• All five starters scored in double digits. In addition to Burden and Mitchell, Dearman scored 16, McLaughlin Jr. 12, and Calvin Manley finished with 11.
• Dearman was a tidy 8-of-10 from the field with six rebounds and three assists.
• The Monarchs were somehow able to withstand Pfeiffer shooting 15-of-28 (54 percent) from the three, led by Jamaal David's double-double of 24 points and 11 rebounds.

UP NEXT

• Methodist will continue to try to lock down the number two seed in the East Division by defeating visiting North Carolina Wesleyan University on Wednesday in the Riddle Center. Tip-off is scheduled for 7:30 p.m.
• It is a quick turnaround for Pfeiffer as Maryville (Tenn.) will enter Merner Gym for a 1 p.m. game on Sunday.