GREENSBORO, N.C. – Davis Rao made six three-pointers and scored a game-high 19 points in Emory University's 82-66 basketball win at Guilford College Sunday. Rao led a big outside-shooting day for the Eagles (4-3), who made 17-of-37 (45.9%) shots from beyond the arc, including 10 of 19 in the second half.
John Bryant's traditional three-point play on the second half's first possession helped Guilford (4-3) tie the game for what proved the final time. Emory's Whit Rapp answered with a drive to the basket at the other end, which triggered an 11-3 run over the next four minutes. Rapp added another bucket and Adam Gigax made the first of his two three-pointers in the decisive spurt.
Guilford's Justen Best made two trifectas sandwiched around Gigax's second triple of the game and drew the Quakers to within 48-45 with 14:20 remaining in the game. Guilford pulled no closer however, as the hot-shooting Eagles ripped off three three-pointers in a 13-4 spurt that opened a 61-49 margin with 9:36 remaining.
The Quakers held a nine-point early in the game as Trever Hyatt drained a three-pointer that opened a 13-4 margin 8:30 into the contest. Emory's Will Trawick scored eight of his 14 points, including two three-pointers, in an 11-4 run that forced the game's second of three ties. He added another trey and Rao hit two as Emory took a 27-19 first-half advantage before the Quakers scrapped their way back to within 34-31 at halftime.
Rapp, Emory's sophomore point guard, frequently found the right man as evidenced by his game-high 13 assists and one turnover in 33 minutes. He also had eight points, five boards and two steals. Trawick knocked down four three-pointers and Emory's 6-9 junior center, Austin Dague, got into the act with two three-pointers and 12 points. Gigax finished with 10 points and local favorite Jonathan Terry chipped in 10 points and four rebounds off the bench.
Bryant and Carson Long shared team-high scoring honors with 10 points apiece, setting new career bests for both rookies. Will Freeman finished with nine points on four-of-six field-goal shooting. Best and Trevor Mayo added eight points apiece. Alston Thompson chipped in six points and a game-high seven rebounds off the bench.
Coach Tom Palombo's Quakers return from a week-long break for final exams to play at North Carolina Wesleyan College December 14 in a 3:00 p.m. contest.