The senior forward recorded his fifth double-double of the season with 20 points and 15 rebounds as the Monarchs made it eight straight victories with an 80-57 victory over rival North Carolina Wesleyan at the Riddle Center. Methodist improves to 12-4 overall and in first place in the USA South Athletic Conference at 4-0.
A 15-0 run midway through the first half was the key for the Monarchs in taking control of the contest. Dragan Radmanovic started the rally with a lay-up at the 9:38 mark, and Porter’s 3-point basket made the Methodist lead 23-17 with five minutes remaining. Seth Thomas and Porter then converted consecutive lay-ups before Ramon Spears halted the rally for the Bishops with a jump shot at the top of the key with 2:25 remaining.
Spears brought the Bishops to within 10 points at halftime, 33-23, on a breakaway dunk with 20 seconds remaining.
Methodist turned it up in the second half, opening the half with a 14-4 run to lead 47-27 with 15 minutes remaining. The closest that North Carolina Wesleyan would trim the lead was 10 points, 58-48 on Jarvis Cobb’s 3-point basket with 5:33 remaining.
After that, it was all Monarchs. They closed out the contest on a 22-9 run as Eugene Grant drained a 3-point basket with 5:13 remaining. Down the stretch, Seth Thomas converted six free throws for the Monarchs.
In addition to Porter, Thomas scored 18 points and grabbed eight rebounds, while Grant scored 15 points. Marcus Hairston scored eight points, and Radmanovic added seven points for the Monarchs. Methodist shot 77 percent (23-for-30) from the free throw line and forced 25 North Carolina Wesleyan turnovers.
Spears scored 20 points for North Carolina Wesleyan (6-10, 0-4), while Cobb scored 12 points. Tony Covington and Lenny Hall each added eight points.
Methodist plays host to rival Christopher Newport on Saturday at 4 p.m. at the Riddle Center.