College Men’s Basketball Final: Ferrum 68, #19 Guilford 65

FERRUM, Va. – James Smith Jr. came off the bench to score a team-high 13 points as Ferrum College defeated Guilford College, 68-65, in an Old Dominion Athletic Conference (ODAC) game on Tuesday night.

The Quakers, ranked 19th in the current D3hoops.com national poll, dropped to 10-4 and 2-3 in league play. The Panthers moved to 7-6 and 2-2 in the ODAC.

Smith Jr. was 5-of-13 shooting as FC outscored Guilford in bench points, 36-13. Senior Kyler Gregory scored 14 points and 14 rebounds to lead the visitors.

Ferrum, which never trailed in the contest, started the game with a 9-0 run and led 42-26 at halftime. Guilford trailed 60-46 with 8:34 remaining before mounting a late rally. Sophomore Liam Ward’s layup cut the deficit to 63-62 with 3:13 left and ended a 17-2 run.

Gergory’s jumper with 1:36 on the clock cut the margin to one point again at 65-64. Smith Jr., however, made a jump shot with 20 seconds left the game’s final field goal. Both teams added a free throw in the waning seconds for the 68-65 final tally.

Gregory was 4-of-11 shooting and converted six of his eight shots from the free-throw line. Jorden Davis, a redshirt sophomore, added 14 points for the Quakers. Freshman Tyler Dearmen came off the bench to record 10 points and Ward and junior Joah Logan bothe netted eight in the defeat.

The Panthers had three other players score double figures. Rashad Reed and Kajuan Madden-McAfee both scored 12 points. Madden McAfee made four shots from beyond the arc for FC. Carrington Young netted 11 points and grabbed a team-best 11 rebounds.

Both clubs shot 39-percent in the game. Ferrum led in the three-pointers, 11-5. The Quakers won the battle of the boards, 42-38. GC committed 13 turnovers and forced 11 Panther miscues.

The Quakers host ODAC rival Bridgewater College on Saturday. Game time is 3 p.m.