Des Moines, Iowa - Behind a career high 21 points from sophomore guard Trent Lyles, the Central Methodist men's basketball team concluded the 2020-21 season with a 71-56 road victory over Grand View Saturday afternoon in Des Moines.
With the win, the Eagles finish the season with an 11-13 overall record, including an 8-11 mark in conference play. CMU also concludes the year winning three of their last four games, all by double-digits. Grand View completes the regular season 11-10, 8-10 in the Heart and have earned the No. 4 seed in the conference tournament set to begin this upcoming week.
Central controlled the game from start to finish, leading nearly every minute of play. CMU opened the game on a 6-0 run in the opening two minutes of the first half, and held a 14-5 lead with 13:26 remaining. Grand View battled back to tie the game at 24-24 with 6:00 remaining, before Jayden McGrew provided an answer with a basket to put Central back out in front on the next possession.
The Eagles entered halftime with a slim 32-30 lead. CMU would go on to outscore Grand View, 39-26 in the second half to cruise to a 15-point victory.
Lyles had a career day for the Eagles, as the sophomore led the team with 21 points, nine rebounds, two assists and a block in nearly 38 minutes of game action. He shot an impressive 50-percent from the field including three three-point baskets.
Senior forward Fode Camara finished his career with Central with 10 points and a game-high 14 rebounds, good enough for his eighth double-double of the season. The Queens, New York native also added three assists, two blocks, and two steals.
The duo of Marcus Anthony and Johnathan Brown each contributed nine points, while senior forward Kyle McDermed concluded his career with eight points, six rebounds, a steal and an assist.
Central's defense held Grand View to just 29-percent from the field, while the Eagles converted on 43.5-percent of the field goal attempts. CMU was decisive down on the low block, grabbing 53 rebounds compared to just 36 for the Vikings. The offense dished out 11 assists on 30 of their field goal makes, led by Chandler Bevans and Camara, who each collected three.
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