LEXINGTON, Va. – Javon McDonald tied a school record with seven three-pointers and helped Washington and Lee University upset visiting Guilford College, 62-58, in Old Dominion Athletic Conference (ODAC) men's basketball action Saturday.
Guilford (14-3, 6-2 ODAC), ranked 22nd in this week's D3hoops.com Top 25 Poll, saw its nine-game winning streak snapped as Washington and Lee (9-8, 4-4 ODAC) won its third straight contest.
McDonald made his first six three-pointers and had 18 first-half points, which helped the hosts to a 36-33 halftime lead. A McDonald three-pointer opened a 26-15 Generals' edge at 8:24 of the opening half before the Quakers finished the frame on an 18-10 run.
While Guilford tied the game three times, twice in the second half, Washington and Lee never trailed. A three-pointer by Guilford's Matt McCarthy just over three minutes into the game tied the score at 42-42, but Washington and Lee used Quakers' turnovers on consecutive possessions and regained a five-point edge midway through the half.
Andrew Franz' jumper with 7:13 to play opened a six-point Generals' edge, their largest lead of the half. Guilford twice made it a one-possession contest down the stretch, but Washington and Lee got a clutch Kevin Gill three-pointer with 52 seconds and two Franz free throws 40 seconds later that iced the victory.
McDonald scored just three second-half points, but led all scorers with 21. Franz finished with 10 and J.D. Ey added nine points and a game-high 12 rebounds, four offensive. Washington and Lee grabbed 10 offensive rebounds, which led to 14 second-chance points. The Generals also turned the ball over a season-low six times, nearly 11 below their season average.
McCarthy led Guilford with 20 points, one off his career high, and Pittman finished with 17. Jake Hopkins notched his season's second double-double with 10 points and a team-best 11 boards. Zeb Richardson added eight points and eight rebounds.
Guilford returns to action Wednesday (1/23) when it hosts league-rival Lynchburg College at 7:00 p.m.