Eugene Grant paced the Monarchs with 24 points as the junior nailed 4-for-6 shots from 3-point range with dishing out seven assists. Grant wasn’t alone in the production. Junior guard Seth Thomas scored 21 points and grabbed nine rebounds with four assists, while sophomore guard Robert Lee nailed a career-high 20 points on 9-for-13 shooting from the field.
Methodist clinged to a 20-18 lead midway through the first half before the Monarchs made their move. Dragan Radmanovic drained a 3-point basket, and Grant’s 3-point play in transition lifted the Methodist lead to 33-23 with five minutes remaining.
The Monarchs’ largest lead of the half was 14 points, 45-31 on Thomas’ jump shot with two minutes remaining.
Chowan trimmed the lead to 11 points, 57-46 on a jumper by Reggie Halsey. However, Methodist put it out of reach with a 10-0 run. Lee’s jump shot gave the Monarchs a commanding 67-47 lead with 11:23 remaining. Methodist took its largest lead of the game at 31 points, 91-60 on a lay-up by Thomas with two minutes remaining.
Methodist shot 54 percent for the game from the field, including 57 percent in the second half, while grabbing 45 rebounds. Radmanovic added eight points for Methodist, while senior forward Sam Porter grabbed 12 rebounds.
Roland Brown scored 17 points for Chowan (7-9), but the key was the Monarchs neutralizing the Braves’ Trayvon Lathan and Montino Williams. Lathan entered the game averaging 20 points and Williams was averaging 15 points. However, the dangerous duo was held to a combined 10 points – six for Lathan and four for Williams. Methodist held Chowan to 22 percent (4-for-18) shooting from 3-point range.
Methodist returns to USA South Athletic Conference play on Monday at 7:30 p.m., playing host to rival North Carolina Wesleyan at the Riddle Center.