College Men’s Basketball Final – N.C. Wesleyan 70, Guilford 65

ROCKY MOUNT, N.C. – A.J. Frye scored 13 of his 15 points in the second half and grabbed 10 rebounds in North Carolina Wesleyan College’s 70-65 men’s basketball win over visiting Guilford College Wednesday night.

The Battling Bishops (3-1) shot 60 percent (15-25) from the floor in the second half to avenge their lone loss of the season, an 81-68 setback to the Quakers (3-4) November 18 in a tournament hosted by the University of Mary Washington.

North Carolina Wesleyan held Guilford without a field goal over a 12-1 spurt midway through the second half. Carson Long’s three-pointer with 9:45 left in regulation broke the game’s fifth and final tie and put the Quakers ahead, 52-49. Frye answered a minute later with a traditional three-point play that started the decisive Bishops’ run. After Long made a jumper with five minutes left to interrupt the home team’s spurt, N.C. Wesleyan’s Chris Braswell answered with a three-pointer that opened a 64-55 margin. Guilford drew no closer than five points when Kyler Gregory scored as time expired.

The Bishops’ Josh Covington made seven-of-eight shots off the bench and led all scorers with 16 points. He also had a game-best four assists. Robert Wilson added 14 points and seven rebounds and Braswell finished with 11. Ricardo Bullock was the fifth Battling Bishop in double-figure scoring with 10 points and added five rebounds. N.C. Wesleyan committed just nine turnovers.

Senior Carson Long led Guilford with 15 points and three three-pointers. Kyler Gregory posted his second double-double of the season with 11 points and a team-best 11 boards. Marcus Curry and Jaylen Gore scored nine points apiece.

Coach Tom Palombo’s Quakers resume Old Dominion Athletic Conference play and return home for the first time in nearly a month next Wednesday (12/5) to host the University of Lynchburg at 7:00 p.m.