FAYETTE, Mo. (Interstat) — Central Methodist defeated Hannibal-LaGrange 79-61 in a men’s NAIA basketball game at Puckett Field House on Oct. 24. The Eagles moved to 1-1, and the Trojans also sit at 1-1. Central Methodist shot 26 of 50 from the floor and 5 of 18 from three-point range while making 22 of 28 free throws. Hannibal-LaGrange shot 22 of 64 overall, 7 of 30 from beyond the arc and 10 of 13 at the line.

The Trojans opened with Ian McDonald’s 3-point jump shot after Dorien Johnson hit a 3 for the Eagles, and the teams traded baskets through the opening minutes. Caleb Wade made free throws, Kamren Hayes scored on a jump shot, and McDonald added another 3. Damian Thompson Jr. converted a free throw and a dunk for Central Methodist, while Pacey Reading answered with a jump shot for Hannibal-LaGrange. Alejandro Delgado and Ikemba Otuonye made free throws, and Thompson hit a 3 for the Eagles.

The middle of the first quarter included more scoring plays. Malachi Persinger made a 3 for the Trojans, Otuonye made a jump shot and a dunk, and Thompson connected from 3-point range. McDonald made another 3, Jeremy Moore made a layup, and Markus Perkins scored on a layup for Central Methodist. Moore added a free throw, Austin Prater made a layup, and Delgado made free throws and a layup for the Eagles. Thompson hit another 3 later in the quarter, while Wade made free throws and Prater made two layups. McDonald and Persinger made jump shots for Hannibal-LaGrange, and Prater answered with a jump shot. Johnson made a layup, and Thompson made a jump shot to close the first-quarter action.

The most important stretch came in the second quarter when Wade made a layup, Delgado made a free throw, and Reading and McDonald hit 3-pointers for the Trojans. Johnson made a layup for Central Methodist, and McDonald made a layup. Prater then made a layup, Delgado made a free throw, and Prater hit a 3 and added another layup for the Eagles. Tayber Gray made a layup for Hannibal-LaGrange, Otuonye made a free throw, and McDonald made a jump shot and a 3. Moore made a layup, and Prater made a layup and a free throw for Central Methodist. McDonald made another jump shot, Gray added a layup, and Perkins made a dunk for the Eagles. Wade made a free throw, Delgado made a layup, and Isaiah Bonaparte made a layup for Central Methodist. Reading made a layup, Delgado made a free throw, and Thompson hit a 3. Wade made a layup, Persinger made a free throw, and Trevon Chambers made a layup for the Eagles. Josh Thomas made a layup for the Trojans, Delgado made free throws, Prater made a layup, Gray made a free throw, Hayes made a free throw, and Cooper Amen made a jump shot for Hannibal-LaGrange.

Central Methodist finished with 36 rebounds, including seven offensive boards, and Hannibal-LaGrange had 35 rebounds with 13 on the offensive glass. The Eagles recorded seven assists, seven blocks and 14 turnovers, while committing 13 fouls. The Trojans had eight assists, four blocks and 14 turnovers, and they were called for 18 fouls. Central Methodist scored 79 points from 70 possessions for an offensive rating of 112.4. Hannibal-LaGrange scored 61 points from 71 possessions for an offensive rating of 85.7.

Damian Thompson Jr., Alejandro Delgado and Austin Prater were among Central Methodist’s key performers. Ian McDonald, Caleb Wade and Pacey Reading were among Hannibal-LaGrange’s key contributors. Markus Perkins, Dorien Johnson and Ikemba Otuonye also were listed among the Eagles’ key performers, and Tayber Gray was among the Trojans’ key performers.

Before the game, Interstat’s game simulator projected a 63-62 Central Methodist win, and its ELO system gave Central Methodist an 83.7 percent win expectation.