BRIDGEWATER, VA --- In a game crowded with 15 ties and 22 lead changes, the difference came down to a single rebound in the final minute, as Greensboro College snuck by the Runnin Royals by a final of 92-91 Saturday afternoon in Bridgewater. EMU finished 1-1 at the Don Glick Classic, playing two eerily similar games as they move to 5-3 on the year.
Eastern Mennonite led by as many as seven in the first half at 24-17, but the Pride, now 4-4, were up at halftime, 45-43.
The second half became a contest of individual possessions and foul shooting, as a total of 19 fouls were called by the midway point. The fouls eventually slowed down but the scoring didn't as the teams were locked at 80-80 with 6:30 yet to play.
The score was still tied when Marcel Crump (Richmond, Va./Highland Springs) hit one of two free throws with 1:10 to go, making it 88-88.
Needing a defensive stand, the Royals got the missed shot they needed when a Pride three pointer was off target, but the men couldn't grab the loose ball for a rebound. Greensboro repeatedly found an offensive board, only to miss an inside look. Finally on their third such attempt, GC got the go-ahead bucket from Parris Scales with 36 seconds left.
After scoring with ease for much of the game, Eastern Mennonite struggled to find an open look when they needed it. Jerome Jones (Charles, Town, W.V./Washington) came up short on a three pointer and the ball fell out of bounds to Greensboro with 16 ticks to go.
A quick foul and two free throws from Devan Gregory put the Pride up 92-88 with 14.4 remaining, but GC disrupted the Royals' offense enough to where they couldn't get up a shot until Jones drilled a three with 1.6 showing. The men couldn't force a turnover, and Greensboro wasted away the final time for the one-point decision.
Eastern Mennonite shot a season-high 52.8%, including 8-for-16 from three point range, and attempted a whopping 41 free throws, going 27-41. The Pride hit 45.3% of their attempts and were 16-19 from the stripe. The biggest difference came in turnovers, where the men had a -6 margin at 15-9. Greensboro had an 18-9 edge in points off of turnovers.
The Royals had very similar stats in Friday's 88-83 win over Milligan, but had a smaller turnover margin at -2, with points off of turnovers being even at 20-20.
Crump led EMU with 19 points, his second-high total of the year, but also had six turnovers. David Falk (Madison, Va./Madison County) collected 12 rebounds and 10 points, as both players were named to the All-Tournament Team. Crump averaged 18.0 at the Classic, including 12-17 free throws. Falk was good for 15.0 points, 12.5 rebounds and 2.0 blocks over the weekend.
Freshman Blake Steele (Front Royal, Va./Warren County) had his first double digit effort with 17 points, including 11 in the first half when Falk was saddled with early foul trouble. Jones finished with 13 points. Ryan Yates (Alexandria, Va./T.C. Williams) had eight points, five rebounds and three assists, but he missed the final 1:10 with an injury.
Gregory finished with a game high 27 for Greensboro. He was also named to the All-Tournament Team as he added five rebounds, four assists and three steals. Scales came in with 10 points and 10 rebounds.
The Royals return home Tuesday for their final contest in Yoder Arena before Christmas. They host Virginia University of Lynchburg that night at 7:00pm, before wrapping up at a tournament in Frederick, Md., over the weekend.