The Central Methodist men overcame a first-half deficit to defeat the Clarke University Pride, 83-79, Saturday at home.

With the win, CMU improves to 4-2 overall and 2-0 in conference play, while Clarke falls to 5-2 and 0-1 in the Heart.

Central found itself trailing by as many as 12 points in the first half, as the Pride’s sharpshooters started out hot from 3-point range. Central trimmed Clarke’s lead to as few as five points in the closing moments of the first, eventually entering the locker room trailing 46-41.

The Eagles would use a 9-4 scoring run midway through the second half to grab a 60-58 lead, capped by a 3-point basket from James Jordan. Clarke answered right back with from beyond the arc to regain the lead.

Both teams continued to exchange baskets until Central went on a 10-0 scoring run to take a 75-68 lead with a little over six minutes remaining.

Clarke cut the deficit to as few as two points on two different occasions, but CMU would hold off the Pride off in the closing moments to secure the four-point win.

Four different Eagles reached double figures including three in the starting lineup. Jordan led the way with 17 points in 34 minutes of action. He also added four assists and three rebounds.

Josh Noton tallied 16 points on 6-for-10 shooting from the floor along with three 3-point baskets. Everett Stubblefield was right behind with 15 points while Jaquan Morris recorded 13 points in just 17 minutes off the bench.

Central just edged Clarke on the glass with 34 rebounds compared to 31 for the Pride. CMU did a majority of its damage from beyond the arc, shooting 46.2% from behind the 3-point line.

Noton and Stubblefield each knocked down three 3-point baskets each while Jordan and Isaiah May each converted two.

CMU opens a three-game road stretch tonight at MidAmerica Nazarene with a  7:30 p.m. tipoff in Olathe, Kansas. The Eagles won’t return home December 14 when they face Culver-Stockton College at 7:30 p.m.