DAVIDSON, N.C. – De’Mon Brooks scored 24 points and grabbed 10 rebounds in 23 minutes of Davidson College’s 111-64 basketball win over visiting Guilford College Friday night at Belk Arena.
The NCAA Division I Wildcats (1-0) put six students in double-figure scoring in their 20th straight win in a home opener.
The contest counted as an exhibition for the Division III Quakers, who officially open their season Tuesday (11/15) against visiting Methodist University.
Guilford’s Carson Sullivan (14 points) and Josh Pittman (12 points) opened the scoring with back-to-back three-pointers, which gave the Quakers a short-lived 6-0 lead. Davidson gradually warmed up and the teams traded baskets for the first eight minutes. A Brooks’ bucket 12:25 before halftime gave the Wildcats the lead for good at 11-10.
The Quakers’ Will Freeman (10 points, 5 rebounds) hit a short jumper in the lane to pull Guilford to within 19-14 with 8:18 left in the first half, but the Wildcats closed the period on a 30-10 run to take a 49-24 halftime lead. Brooks had seven of his 15 first-half points in the spurt, which also featured four of Davidson’s 11 three-pointers.
Pittman, fellow starter Brad Monroe and rookie Will Koppenhaver each picked up their fourth fouls within the first four minutes of the second half, which limited Guilford’s comeback chances. Davidson shot over 57 percent from the floor in the second half and made 18-of-24 free throws. Wildcats freshman Tyler Kalinoski scored 11 of his 16 points off the bench and teammate Tom Droney (14 points) also scored 11 in the second half.
J.P. Kuhlman scored 13 points for Davidson. Nik Cochran added 11 points and a game-high six assists.