Guilford College Quakers basketball over the Italian National Team

Guilford’s men’s basketball team scored a 65-46 exhibition victory over the
Italian Under-18 Junior National Team Tuesday night. Josh Pittman(Trinity High School) led all scorers with 19 points and made four three-pointers. Travis Tracy added nine for the Quakers. Follow the link below for the game statistics and
narration:

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GREENSBORO, N.C. – Josh Pittman (Archdale, N.C./Trinity) scored a game-high
19 points in Guilford College’s 65-46 exhibition basketball win over the
Italian Junior National Team Tuesday night. The Italian team is comprised of
the nation’s top 16- and 17-year-old basketball players and on a two-week
American tour of North Carolina and Virginia.

Pittman, a sophomore, made seven-of-12 shots from the floor, including
four-of-seven three-pointers. He added four rebounds, three assists and two
steals in 30 minutes and was the lone Quaker in double-figure scoring.

The Italians erased an early nine-point deficit to tie the score at 24-24
4:31 before halftime, but Guilford closed the half on an 8-0 run. Pittman
had 12 points by the break and rookie Connor Belicic (Apex, N.C./Apex)
scored all seven of his points in the opening frame.

Strong inside play and aggressive rebounding helped Guilford pull away in
the second half. The Quakers’ Tobi Akinsola (Cary, N.C./Word of God
Christian (Bethany)) scored back-to-back buckets to start the period and an
8-0 burst opened a 19-point Quakers’ edge with 11:43 to play. Pittman
triggered the run, which included a traditional three-point play by Justin
Stafford (Winston-Salem, N.C./Calvary Baptist Day) and back-to-back follow
baskets by Brad Monroe (Asheboro, N.C./Eastern Randolph). Guilford
outrebounded the Italians, 41-24, and outscored their guests, 17-0, on
second-chance points.

Marco Lagana led the Italian team with 10 points. Simone Tomasini added nine
points off the bench. The Italians were limited to 30.4 percent shooting in
the second half and committed 18 turnovers that led to 23 Guilford points.

Travis Tracy (Spartanburg, S.C./Spartanburg Day School) added nine points on
four-of-six shooting from the floor. Monroe finished with eight and Akinsola
added five points and a game-high seven rebounds.

Guilford visits Wake Forest University Friday at 7:00 p.m. in another
preseason exhibition contest.