RALEIGH, N.C.  In the USA South Athletic Conference opener for both Methodist University and William Peace University, Dante Burden logged his first career double-double as he and the Monarchs took care of business against the host Pacers, 93-73, Friday afternoon.

Burden scored 18 points, to go along with a career-high 12 assists and nine rebounds. His four blocks and two steals were also game-highs. He finished a rebound shy of his first career triple-double. Garren Dearman's 19 points on 8-of-13 shooting led the team.

THE ESSENTIALS
Final Score: Methodist def. William Peace, 93-73
Records: Methodist 1-1 (1-0 USA South); William Peace 1-2 (0-1)
Location: Hermann Athletic Center; Raleigh, N.C.

HOW IT HAPPENED

• An 11-0 run midway through the first half was all the Monarchs needed to take the lead for good as Methodist reversed a 24-20 deficit into a 31-24 advantage with nine minutes remaining in the half.
• A Clayton Coe three-pointer (with an assist from Kevin McLaughlin Jr.) put the score at 49-38 with under two minutes left in the first frame. That was the Monarchs' first double-digit lead.
• The Pacers were unable to get the deficit back down into single digits as the Methodist lead swelled to 20 points several times in the final stanza, first with a Chris George dunk at the 13-minute mark and ending with a Coe three-pointer on the final basket of the game.

THE NUMBERS

• Jamal DeShields-Beard had 14 points on six-of-seven shooting and Coe had 11 points to join Dearman and Burden in double-digit scoring. George's 11 rebounds led the team, to go along with his eight points.
• John Burwell led the Pacers with 22 points.
• As a team, the Monarchs shot over 50 percent from the field, going 38-of-72 (52.8%) in the win, compared to 36.2 percent afternoon (25-of-69) by William Peace.
• Methodist had a 52-26 advantage in points in the paint, a 43-15 edge in bench points, and a 48-33 advantage in rebounding.

UP NEXT

• The two teams will turn around and play in Fayetteville, N.C., on Sunday, January 24 at 2 p.m. when the Monarchs host the Pacers in the Riddle Center. That game, along with all USA South basketball contests, will not be open to spectators and are webcast only.
• Next week for Methodist, it's a conference series against Pfeiffer University with a home date on Friday, January 29 at 4:30 p.m. before a trip to Misenheimer, N.C. on Sunday, January 31 at 5 p.m.