FAYETTEVILLE, N.C. – Matt McCarthy scored a game-high 20 points and Jonny Rice chipped in with 14 points and career-high 16 rebounds in Guilford College's 72-64 basketball win at Methodist University Wednesday night.

McCarthy knocked down five three-pointers, four in the first half, which led to 12 points and a 35-27 Guilford halftime lead. Trever Hyatt knocked down two first-half triples as the Quakers (5-1) shot 50 percent from beyond the arc in the opening half, compared to Methodist's one-for-six long-range shooting effort.

The Monarchs (2-4) opened the second half on a 10-2 run and tied the game on Desmond Parker's layup three-and-a-half minutes into the half.  The Quakers called a 30-second timeout and Rice scored a traditional three-point play, which triggered a 12-4 spurt. Will Freeman capped the run with layups on consecutive trips down the floor to give Guilford a 49-42 edge with 12:20 remaining.

McCarthy's fifth and final trifecta of the game gave Guilford a 58-50 lead with 7:32 left, but Methodist battled back to within 60-57 on a Jackson Whitley free throw with 3:56 to play.

Chris Vinson's bucket drew the Monarchs to within 64-60 with 1:22 left. Following a Methodist timeout, Vinson stole the ball from McCarthy, but the Monarchs' failed to convert on the possession despite two offensive rebounds. Guilford's Rice rebounded a Vinson miss with 32 seconds left and made one of two free throws. The Quakers sealed the victory with four-of-six free-throw shooting in the final 28 seconds.

Rice scored 12 of his points in the second half thanks to eight-for-11 free-throw shooting. He also had 11 second-half rebounds. Hyatt and Freeman finished with 10 points apiece as Guilford put four students in double-figure scoring. The Quakers enjoyed a 44-31 rebounding edge and converted 13 offensive boards into 14 second-chance points.

Mike Major led Methodist with 15 points and 11 rebounds. Tabias Hilliard finished with 10 points. The Monarchs managed just one-of-14 shooting from three-point range and missed 11-of-26 free throws.

Guilford opens Old Dominion Athletic Conference play Saturday (12/6) at 3:00 p.m. against nationally ranked Virginia Wesleyan College. The game marks Guilford's Holiday Spirit Day where fans decked out for the season are eligible to win gift cards from Salsarita's Cantina.