Eastern Mennonite men slip past Guilford 84-82 in 2OT…

GREENSBORO, N.C. – Senior D.J. Hinson’s (Newport News, Va./Menchville) two
free throws with 2.9 seconds left in the second overtime period sent
visiting Eastern Mennonite University past Guilford College, 84-82, in a
thrilling Old Dominion Athletic Conference (ODAC) men’s basketball game
Saturday.

The Royals (21-4, 12-4 ODAC), ranked 14th in this week’s D3hoops.com Top 25
Poll, swept the season series from Guilford (16-9, 10-6 ODAC) and secured
the third seed for next week’s ODAC Tournament. Eastern Mennonite will play
the winner of Tuesday’s game between Hampden-Sydney College and Emory &
Henry College Feb. 25 at 8:00 p.m. in Salem, Va.

The Quakers earned the tourney’s fourth seed and play fifth-seeded Randolph
College Feb. 25 at 3:00 p.m. in another quarterfinal tilt.

Hinson scored nine of his game-high 19 points in the extra time. His
coast-to-coast layup with two seconds left tied the game at 75 and forced
the second overtime. The senior’s three-pointer opened the scoring in the
second overtime and his layup with 39 seconds left opened an 82-79 Royals’
edge. Guilford’s Martin Stephenson (Cary, N.C./Cary) made his second
three-pointer in three years with six seconds remaining to tie the game for
the 12th and final time.

With both teams out of time outs, Eastern Mennonite pushed the ball up the
floor and got it to Hinson, who drew a foul driving into the lane. He made
both shots with 2.9 seconds left. Guilford inbounded the ball to junior
Gabriel Lowder (Yadkinville, N.C./North Forsyth) near midcourt. He drove
down the sideline and got off a three-pointer just before the horn, which
bounced off the rim.

The contest featured 12 ties, nine lead changes and plenty of runs. The
Quakers scored the game’s first nine points, but Eastern Mennonite recovered
quickly and led, 42-38, at halftime. Senior George Johnson (Richmond,
Va./Miller School) scored 10 of his 15 points early in the second half to
help the Royals open a 14-point lead two minutes into the second half, but
Guilford rallied with a 14-2 run midway through the half and tied the game
at 63 with 6:47 left in regulation.

Seniors Todd Phillips (Waynesboro, Va./Waynesboro), Eli Crawford (Staunton,
Va./R.E. Lee) and Orie Pancione (Augusta, W. Va./Hampshire) all scored 12
points for Eastern Mennonite, which had all five starters score in double
figures. Pancione added nine boards. The Royals forced Guilford into 18
turnovers, which led to 23 points, and outscored Guilford in the paint,
30-26.

Stephenson, one of four Guilford seniors making their final home appearance,
matched his career high with 19 points. His bucket with two seconds left in
regulation forced the first overtime. Sophomore teammate Josh Pittman
(Archdale, N.C./Trinity) also scored 19 points, 14 in the first half, which
helped Guilford stay close. Sophomore Travis Tracy (Spartanburg,
S.C./Spartanburg Day) added 11 points off the bench and junior teammate Brad
Monroe (Asheboro, N.C./Eastern Randolph) chipped in with eight. Monroe’s
game- and career-high 12 rebounds helped Guilford win the battle of the
boards, 50-39. Senior T.C. Anderson (Cary, N.C./Green Hope) contributed 10
points, five rebounds, five assists and two steals in 19 minutes before
fouling out in the second half.

Eastern Mennonite vs Guilford
02/19/11 3:00 p.m. at Greensboro, NC – Ragan-Brown Field House
At Greensboro, NC – Ragan-Brown Field House
EASTERN MENNONITE 84, GUILFORD 82
EASTERN MENNONITE (21-4, 12-4 ODAC)
HINSON, D.J. 6-16 4-4 19; JOHNSON, George 4-9 6-7 15; PANCIONE, Orie 3-6 6-8
12; CRAWFORD, Eli 4-9 4-4 12; PHILLIPS, Todd 3-11 4-4 12; SIMS, R.J. 2-6 0-0
6; ORGAN, Marlon 1-2 1-2 3; THORNE, Andrew 1-3 1-2 3; LONGACRE, Owen 1-1 0-0
2; WASHINGTON, Vance 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 25-63 26-31 84.
GUILFORD (16-9, 10-6 ODAC)
STEPHENSON, Martin 9-17 0-0 19; PITTMAN, Josh 5-14 5-6 19; TRACY, Travis 4-5
1-1 11; ANDERSON, T.C. 2-3 5-6 10; MONROE, Brad 3-6 2-4 8; BELICIC, Connor
1-1 2-2 5; LOWDER, Gabriel 1-9 1-2 4; STAFFORD, Justin 2-6 0-1 4; EFIRD,
Gene 0-1 1-2 1; AKINSOLA, Tobi 0-7 1-3 1; SCARVER II, Darryl 0-0 0-0 0.
Totals 27-69 18-27 82.
Eastern Mennonite…………. 42 27 6 9 – 84
Guilford…………………. 38 31 6 7 – 82
3-point goals–Eastern Mennonite 8-32 (HINSON, D.J. 3-8; SIMS, R.J. 2-6;
PHILLIPS, Todd 2-8; JOHNSON, George 1-6; THORNE, Andrew 0-1; CRAWFORD, Eli
0-3), Guilford 10-19 (PITTMAN, Josh 4-10; TRACY, Travis 2-2; STEPHENSON,
Martin 1-2; BELICIC, Connor 1-1; ANDERSON, T.C. 1-1; LOWDER, Gabriel 1-3).
Fouled out–Eastern Mennonite-PANCIONE, Orie; PHILLIPS, Todd,
Guilford-ANDERSON, T.C.. Rebounds–Eastern Mennonite 39 (PANCIONE, Orie 9),
Guilford 50 (MONROE, Brad 12). Assists–Eastern Mennonite 15 (HINSON, D.J.
5), Guilford 11 (ANDERSON, T.C. 5). Total fouls–Eastern Mennonite 22,
Guilford 23. Technical fouls–Eastern Mennonite-None, Guilford-None. A-500
Old Dominion Athletic Conference Game
Eastern Mennonite is ranked #14 in this weeks D3hoops.com Top 25 Poll

Dave Walters
Guilford College Athletics