MAYFIELD, Ky. - Sooner or later it was bound to happen. On Thursday night, the Mid-Continent University men's basketball team started slow for the third straight game, and this time it would cost them in the end.

Martin Methodist College (10-9, 2-1) built an early 11-point lead, and though Mid-Continent (13-7, 1-1) was able to draw close in the latter stages of the first half, the RedHawks proved to be too much for the under-sized MCU squad, taking an 84-71 win from the Cougars at Mayfield High School Sports Arena.

The RedHawks pieced together a 10-0 run early in the game, stretching a 10-9 lead out to 20-9 before Mid-Continent started to chip away. The Cougars drew to within two points at 24-22, using a 13-4 run to do so, but they never were able to knot the score, and in the closing moments of the first half, the RedHawks posted another 10-0 spurt, taking a 40-28 lead with them into the break. The intermission did not slow down the RedHawks either. Martin Methodist used a 12-4 run to open a 20-point lead at 52-32, and from there, the result was academic. Mid-Continent fought valiantly to bring the margin to within a dozen twice late in the game, but the Cougars were unable to get any closer, as Martin Methodist claimed the win 84-71.

Lee Ames led four Mid-Continent players in double figures, posting a 22-point effort on the strength of a 6-for-9 effort from behind the arc. Larry Thompkins II added 14 points in the contest, with Gavin Scott and Charles Peden each adding 10 tallies in the game. Peden grabbed a team high seven boards, while Scott dished out four assists and had a pair of blocked shots as well. As a team, Mid-Continent made 23-of-56 (41.1%) shots from the field, including 11-of-22 (50%) from long range. They did struggle at the free throw line, however, converting only 14-of-23 (60.9%) attempts.

Mid-Continent will continue TranSouth play on Saturday, hosting the Lions of Freed-Hardeman University (9-12, 0-2) at 4 p.m.