GREENSBORO, NC – The Greensboro College men’s basketball team traveled to the Greensboro Coliseum on Wednesday afternoon to take on the Spartans of UNC-Greensboro. Devan Gregory led all scorers with a game high 27 points, but Greensboro fell to NCAA Division I Spartans 82-78.
The Pride men came out of the gate fast jumping out to an 22-7 lead following a 19-3 run just nine minutes into the game. With the Pride trailing, 4-3, Parris Scales connected from long range giving the Pride a 6-3 lead. As the run continued Hamilton Hawkins and Simeon Howard each recorded long range shots before Scales capped off the run with his second basket of the game.
Following the Pride run the Spartans were able to climb back into the game with a 13-2 run of their own fueled by Tevon Saddler to tie the game at 33-33. The Spartans then took a three point lead at 41-38 before Devan Gregory connected with the teams ninth three pointer to head into the break tied at 41-41.
Greensboro College shot a blistering 9-15 (61%) from behind the arch in the first half to go along with a 52 percent clip overall from the field.
Coming out of the halftime break, UNCG was able to jump out to a four point lead at 51-47 before Gegory and Hamilton Hawkins scored on back to back possessions tying the game with just over 13 minutes to play. As the second half ticked under the half way mark, the Spartans were able to retake a five point lead at 64-59 but the Pride did not back down.
Joseph Gatling got the Pride to within three at 64-61 before the Spartans were able to take their largest lead of the game at 71-64. Over the course of the final five minutes of play, Greensboro College was able to come back and tie the game at 75-75 following a Raheem Martin free throw with 2:43 to play in regulation
UNCG had pulled their lead back out to a five point at 80-75 when Devan Gregory was fouled behind the arch and was able to convert on all three shots bringing the Pride to with two 80-78. Following the free throw shots by Gregory, the Pride fouled Saddler who was able to put the game out of reach giving UNCG the 82-78 victory.
Simeon Howard tallied 21 points in the game to go along with Gregory’s 27 while Parris Scales also recorded double digits with 11. Edric Roberts also contributed nine points off the bench for Greensboro College. Scales also led the Pride in rebounding with seven while senior Raheem Martin added six. The Pride was able to hold a 19-16 advantage in second chance points while collecting eleven offensive boards.
“This was an overall team effort today,” Pride Head Men’s Basketball Coach Bryan Galuksi said. “This was a make or miss game for us, and our kids and staff did an outstanding job in practice getting ready for this game.”
The Pride finished the day shooting 44% (27-61) from the field while finishing the day 12-24 from long range.
Galuski also said, “We have to take the momentum from today’s game throughout the rest of the season. This weekend we travel on the road to play a pair of tough teams, and we will need this type of effort.”
With the loss, Greensboro College sees their overall record fall to 3-3 on the season. The Pride men will return to action this weekend at the Bridgewater Classic. Greensboro College will take on host Bridgewater on Friday night before taking on Eastern Mennonite on Saturday. The game with the Eagles is set to get underway 8:00 PM on Friday.