GREENSBORO, N.C. – Sophomore Carson Long poured in a career-high 31 points and classmate Marcus Curry added 19 to carry Guilford College past the University of Texas at Dallas, 76-62, Friday night in the Guilford Men's Basketball Invitational.
The win sends Guilford (2-0) into Saturday's (11/19) 6:00 p.m. tournament final versus Emory University (1-1), 100-80 winners over William Peace University in Friday's opening tourney game. UT-Dallas (0-2) meets William Peace (1-1) in Saturday's 4:00 consolation tilt.
Long, a 6-4 swingman, knocked down 13-of-17 field goals, including five-of-eight three-pointers, in the Quakers' first 30-point game since January 2015. He scored 17 second-half points, which helped Guilford break open a two-point game at the half.
The Comets (0-2) took a 49-48 lead with 12 minutes left on C.J. Winzer's layup before Guilford ripped off a decisive 22-7 run. Long had three three-pointers and 11 points during the spurt, which opened a 70-56 edge with 4:40 to play.
Curry made eight-of-12 shots off the bench, which helped Guilford's reserves outscore their counterparts, 28-21. Sophomore Alston Thompson added eight points and six rebounds. Senior guard Zachary Houston did not score, but had a game-high nine rebounds, plus six assists and three steals and one turnover in 34 minutes. Guilford shot just under 55 percent from the floor in the second half and 50 percent for the game.
Kyle Coulter's 13 points paced UT-Dallas, which managed 10-of-28 (.357) second-half shooting. Jon Hatcher finished with 10 points and a team-high seven rebounds. Winzer scored with eight points and Caleb Banks dished out a game-high seven assists.
Guilford meets Emory, which put four students in double-figure scoring in a convincing win over William Peace. The Pacers made seven of their first eight field goals for an early lead, but could not keep pace with the high-flying Eagles, who shot 60 percent from the floor in the second half and 54.5 percent for the game.
Emory's Christopher Avant notched 22 points and nine rebounds, both game highs. Playing before a hometown crowd, Greensboro Day School alumnus Jonathan Terry pumped in 18 points on four-for-seven three-point shooting. Jim Gordon and Donald Avant both chipped in 12 points, and Emory's Adam Gigax added 10.
Chris Thomas led William Peace with 21 points and Jalen Vince added 15 points, seven assists and five boards. Camden Ferguson canned three three-pointers off the bench and finished with 11 points.