A 24-8 first-half run gave the EMU Runnin Royals a lead they would not relinquish in an 84-75 win over Methodist Friday night in Yoder Arena. The win on day one of the EMU Tip-Off Invitational was the men’s first of the year.
Play continues tomorrow, with Eastern Mennonite (1-1) hosting Gallaudet University at 3:00pm. Bridgewater gets Methodist at 1:00pm. Gallaudet beat BC 76-71 in overtime in Friday’s other game, also the season opener for both teams.
The Monarchs (0-2) led by as many as five early on and held a 10-7 margin four minutes in. A three pointer from RaShawn Latimer (Warrenton, Va./Kettle Run) knotted the score at 10-10 and ignited a 13-0 run. Xavier McCants (Olney, Md./Sherwood) tipped in a missed shot to cap the streak, as the Royals held MU scoreless for 5:10 and took a 20-10 lead during the stretch.
Maleke Jones (Charles Town, W.V./Washington) converted on a three-point play to push the margin to 31-18, but Methodist scratched their way back to within 37-35. Khalil Davis (Harrisonburg, Va./Spotswood) scored the final four of the half to give the Royals a 41-35 edge at intermission.
Neither team could put together any consistent offense to start the second, as the Monarchs chiseled the lead down to 43-41 at the 14:53 mark. Latimer then scored before Davis drove to the hoop on back-to-back possessions to ignite the home crowd and bump the lead back to 50-41.
Jones hit a triple to end an 8-0 run, pushing the margin all the way back up to 62-47.
The Monarchs again came back to within six points at 76-70, but EMU went 6-for-6 from the free throw line over the final 1:03 to ice the nine-point win.
The men had a slight 42.2% to 41.7% shooting margin from the floor, but they made the difference from outside and the stripe. EMU was a modest 7-for-28 from three, but pinned Methodist to 1-for-18 shooting from long range. The Royals were also 23-28 from the free throw line compared to 14-20 for MU.
Davis drew the late start and responded with a career high 21 points and four steals. Jones teamed in the back court with 15 and five steals. The men had 13 picks as a team.
Sammy Thomas (Owings, Md./Northern) finished with 11 points and seven boards while Latimer scored nine.
Methodist got double doubles from two players. Big man Jackson Whitley had 18 points and 12 rebounds while Davion Ayabarreno added 19 and 10. Rae Hill put in 19 counters.
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