FAYETTEVILLE, N.C. E Sam Porter scored 18 of his game high 24 points in the second half Sunday afternoon to lead host Methodist College to a 74-62 USA South Conference victory over Shenandoah.

Methodist (14-4, 6-0 USA South) trailed by one at the break, 27-26, but scored eight of the first nine points of the second to take a lead it would not relinquish. Robert Lee had two three pointers during this run while Sam Porter added a jumper in the lane.

Porter helped the Monarchs extend the lead to nine by scoring his teamís next seven points; the run was finally stopped on a Dragan Radmanovic 12-footer at the 12:39 mark.

Shenandoah (12-7, 4-2 USA South) briefly got back into it after Patrick Miller made a layup with 11:17 to play that made the score 43-37 in favor of MC, but could get no closer.

The Monarchs only had a 42-38 rebounding advantage, but scored 20 of second chance points to the Hornets 10 and had 30 of their points in the paint. They also hit six of 12 second half three-pointers.

In addition to Porterís 24, Seth Thomas had 12, Robert Lee 11 and Eugene Grant 10 for the hosts.

Kenny Purnell, who started and played 29 minutes despite receiving 22 stitches in his mouth Saturday evening after an injury against Greensboro, led Shenandoah with 14 points. Chris Rhone had 11, as did Jeremiah Lawrence , and Onyie Onunaku 10. Lawrence, Porter and Thomas shared high rebounding honors with 11.

Box Score/Play by Play 

Shenandoah starts the second round of USA South Conference play Wednesday evening at Christopher Newport. Game time is 7:30.