FAYETTEVILLE, N.C.  Friday's rousing 68-58 home victory over visiting North Carolina Wesleyan College places Methodist men's basketball firmly in the pole position atop the East Division in the USA South Athletic Conference.

The Monarchs' defense was outstanding as it held the Battling Bishops to 58 points, a season best for Methodist, and a season low for N.C. Wesleyan in league play. Individually, the Monarchs held Damon McDowell to just 14 points on 5-of-17 shooting. McDowell entered the contest averaging 28.9 points per game in conference action.

Dante Burden led the charge for Methodist with his second career double-double. He had a career-high 13 rebounds, along with team-high totals of 18 points, five assists, and three steals.

THE ESSENTIALS
Final Score: Methodist def. N.C. Wesleyan, 68-58
Records: Methodist 5-2 (5-1 USA South); N.C. Wesleyan 9-5 (6-2)
Location: Riddle Center; Fayetteville, N.C.

HOW IT HAPPENED

• After five early lead changes and Methodist clinging to a slight 24-22 lead, the Monarchs embarked on a 10-0 run and never looked back. Burden scored eight straight points, including two three-pointers, to extend the lead to 34-22. Garren Dearman hit back-to-back treys for a 40-26 halftime score.
• A 7-0 run (two Chris George layups plus a Kevin McLaughlin Jr. trey) early in the second half saw the Monarchs' lead balloon from 43-30 to 50-30, their largest lead of the game.
• The Battling Bishops fought back to cut the deficit down to as little as seven points with 2:32 remaining, thanks to a 9-0 NCW run. Trailing by seven with 77 ticks left, a miracle was not meant to be as the Battling Bishops missed their last five field goals to close out the game.

THE NUMBERS

• This is the first time all season that four Monarchs scored at least 12 points -- Burden (18), Dearman (15), McLaughlin (13), and George (12).
• George also had eight rebounds and a team-high three blocks, plus two steals. J'Quan Deal was second on the team on the glass with nine rebounds.
• The Monarchs' first half set the stage for this win. Methodist shot nearly 47 percent from the field through the first 20 minutes, including 6-of-12 from behind the arc.

UP NEXT

• The Monarchs can entrench themselves further as the top divisional seed on Sunday, February 21 when they travel to Rocky Mount, N.C., for a 2 p.m. matchup against these same Battling Bishops.
• Methodist will return to its home court on Tuesday, February 23 when it hosts Averett University at 3 p.m. The game was originally scheduled for February 7 and these two teams have faced off once before this season. The Monarchs won that first matchup, 74-73, on the road.