Danville, Va. – Adam Powell (Stuart, FL/Jensen Beach High) scored 18 points as Greensboro College won at Averett University, 60-58, on Saturday. Powell was 8-11 from the field and made two three-pointers in the game. GC improved to 6-6 and 1-0 in USA South play. Averett is now 4-9 and 1-1.
The win was the first for The Pride in Danville since 98-94 double overtime win on Jan. 17, 2004.
Freshman Luqman Tijani (Greensboro, NC/Page High School) came off the bench to contribute 11 points for GC. Lewis Owenby (Black Mountain, NC/Owen) had 9 points and Andre Porter (Hope Mills, NC/Southview) added 8 and dished 4 assists.
“We turned up the defensive pressure and intensity in the second half,” said GC Head Coach Bryan Galuski. “This was definitely a team effort and and a great win for us.”
Averett held a 35-30 break at halftime. The Cougars made 8-13 three-pointers to The Pride’s to 3-5. Powell had 12 points at the break.
In the second half, GC went on a 17-3 run to start the period. GC held a 56-48 lead with 14:27 remaining.
The Cougars, however, cut the lead to 56-55 after two free throws from Ruben Pierce with 1:17 remaining.
Tijani then hit a jumper for The Pride and Jason Baker (Detroit, MI/Anchor Bay Prep) added two free throws for the eventual winning points.
Brandon Malone paced the Cougars with 16 points. The Pride shot 47-percent (23-49) to AU’s 36-percent (20-54) in the contest. Averett made just 2-11 treys in the final 20 minutes.
The victory was also Bryan Galuski’s first over the Cougars on the road. Additionally, the men’s/women’s sweep was the first since 2004.
The Pride hosts Concord (W.V.) on Monday night. Tip-off against the NCAA Division Mountain Lions is 7:30 p.m.