The Pride men’s basketball team will look to continue its winning ways with a key three game home stretch this week. Greensboro has won two consecutive games and six of its past seven. The Pride are 10-4 on the season and a perfect 3-0 in USA South play. Greensboro picked up victories last week over Shenandoah and preseason conference favorite North Carolina Wesleyan. The Pride will host Allen University on Monday, Averett on Wednesday and Christopher Newport on Saturday.
Upcoming Games
Monday, January 16 vs. Allen University (7:30 p.m.) — Greensboro will welcome Allen University to Hanes Gym on Monday night. A member of the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA), Allen, has faced competition from all classifications of the NCAA this season; I, II and III. Located in Columbia, SC, Allen’s lone bout since December 10 came on January 9 against Pensacola Christian.
This is the first ever meeting between the two schools. To visit the Allen athletic webpage, CLICK HERE.
Wednesday, January 18 vs. Averett (7:30 p.m.) — Averett is currently 6-10 overall and 1-3 in the USA South. The Cougars dropped two games last week to Ferrum and North Carolina Wesleyan. Averett rallied from a double digit deficit at home against Wesleyan on Saturday, only to see its lead evaporate in the final minute of a 77-73 defeat. The Cougars are 2-6 away from their home floor this season.
Averett is being outscored on average by opponents 80.2-76.2. Opponents are converting field goals at a 45.9% clip, compared to 42.1% for the Cougars. Averett, however, holds advantages in three-point shooting at 35.2%-33.2% and on the boards at 45.1-37.3. Justin Pierce leads a trio of Cougar players in double figures scoring, averaging 17.8 points per game. Marquis Scott is also contributing 12.1 per game while Paul Porter adds 10.0. Scott is the teams leading rebounder with 9.2 per game with Porter following close behind with 7.8.
The Pride hold a 51-32 advantage in the series, including a season sweep last season. Greensboro beat Averett at home, 85-52, and hung on for a 77-69 road win.
Saturday, January 21 vs. Christopher Newport (4:00 p.m.) — Saturday’s match-up will pit a pair of current conference unbeatens. The Captains enter the week at 12-3 overall and 4-0 in the USA South and are riding an eight game winning streak. Last week, Christopher Newport beat Methodist and hammered Ferrum 107-79. The Captains have not lost since an 85-77 setback to St. Mary’s College of Maryland on December 1. Christopher Newport is 5-1 on the road this season and will host Shenandoah on Wednesday before visiting Greensboro.
The Captains are outscoring opponents this season by a margin of 83.3-71.9. Christopher Newport is shooting 44.9% from the field and 34.7% from beyond the arc while limiting opponents to a 38.5% field goal percentage, including a lowly 27.9% from three. The Captains are outrebounding opponents, 44.9-39.1 and are forcing 17.2 turnovers per game. Indvidually, Conley Taylor is averaging a team high 20.7 points per contest while Tra Benefield is scoring at a 16.7 points per game clip. Benefield and Nik Biberaj lead the team in rebounding at 6.7 boards apiece.
Christopher Newport handed The Pride two losses last season by a combined nine points and hold a commanding series advantage.