GREENSBORO, N.C. – Trever Hyatt came off the bench to score a game-high 18 points to lift the Quakers to a 72-53 win over William Peace in the championship game of the Guilford Invitational basketball tournament Saturday afternoon at Ragan Brown Field House.
It was the second straight year that Guilford and Peace met in the men's championship final and both times the Quakers came out on top.
After Guilford (2-0) enjoyed a blowout win last year, the Pacers (1-1) kept things interesting through most of the first half. The game was tied at 23-23 before the Quakers closed the half on a 9-2 run capped by a 3-pointer from Hyatt, to take a 32-25 lead into intermission.
It was more of the same in the second half, as Guilford opened the period on a 23-4 run to clinch the game. Hyatt added seven points in the second-half blitz by the Quakers.
Guilford had a balanced scoring attack, with three players in double digits. Tournament MVP Matt McCarthy added 12 points while Alston Furr, an all-tournament selection, chipped in with 11.
The Quakers shot well for the game, as they converted 27-of-58 shots for 46.6% shooting from the floor. While Guilford enjoyed a good-shooting night, it also played a very strong defensive game, holding Peace to 28.1% shooting from the field.
Gaven Allen led the Pacers with 12 points and earned a spot on the All-Tournament Team, where he was joined by teammate T.J. Hinnant. Isaiah Core from LaGrange was the fifth player honored with all-tourney status.
In the consolation game, LaGrange downed Johnson & Wales (NC) 88-83. Core led five scorers for the Panthers in double digits with 22 points. Joshua Cohen and Kindrick Anderson provided a solid one-two scoring punch for Johnson & Wales, with 24 and 23 points, respectively. But the Panthers wore down the Wildcats with their deep roster, as their bench provided 28 points, more than double the 13 that Johnson & Wales got from its reserves.
The Quakers return to action Tuesday night when they take on city rival Greensboro College in a 7:00 pm tilt in the Greensboro Coliseum.