Gatling Continues Hot Start To Season, But Pride Men Fall On Road Against Roanoke
from Wes Gullett, Greensboro College Sports Information Director
ROANOKE, Va. – Joseph Gatling scored a team-high 21 points but the Greensboro College men’s basketball team suffered a six-point setback against the Maroons of Roanoke College Sunday, 85-79.
Roanoke scored the game’s first basket before the Pride scored on their next two possessions to take a 5-2 lead.
Kyle Riddley sparked the early run with a three-pointer before Corey Burnette recorded a block for the Pride. Following a rebound off the block, Carmoni Marks capped off the run with his first basket of the contest.
The Pride was then able to hold their narrow advantage for the next five minutes before taking their largest lead of the half at 13-6, following a Trey Smith layup, with 15:06 showing on the first half clock.
Roanoke was then able to battle back to regain the lead at 20-19 before outscoring Greensboro 22-15 over the final nine minutes to take a 42-34 lead into the break.
The Maroons were able to extend their lead to 14 points, six minutes into the second half, but Greensboro did not go away.
With Roanoke leading 66-57 with just under 10 minutes to play, Greensboro used a 10-2 run to pull within one point before briefly pulling out in front 69-68 following another Smith layup in the paint.
Over the final six minutes of action, the two teams traded baskets back and forth before the Maroons were able to pull away for the six-point victory.
“We did a poor job of stopping the dribble penetration,” Head Coach Bryan Galuski said. “Actually, it was almost nonexistent.
“Unfortunately, we gave Roanoke too many high percentage and uncontested shots, and you can’t win on the road doing that. However, I liked how we battled. I like our team and if we keep growing and maturing as teammates, we will continue to improve.”
Marks, Smith and Riddley joined Gatling in double figures scoring. Marks tallied 16 points, while Smith and Riddley contributed 15 and 14 points respectively. Demetrius Tilley collected a team-high six rebounds.
The Pride men will return to action at 6 p.m. Friday when they take on the Marlins of Virginia Wesleyan College in their first game of the Roger Taylor Memorial Classic at North Carolina Wesleyan College. For more information on Greensboro College men’s basketball, continue to follow www.greensborocollegesports.com.