Freeman Leads Guilford Men Past Randolph-Macon, 80-75

More news about: Guilford

GREENSBORO, N.C. – Will Freeman scored a game- and career-high 22 points in Guilford College's 80-75 Old Dominion Athletic Conference (ODAC) basketball win over visiting Randolph-Macon College Saturday. Freeman, Guilford's lone senior playing his final regular-season home contest, was honored before the start of the game.

Freema, a 6-5 forward, scored nine points in a tightly contested first half that saw the Yellow Jackets pull away late for a 35-28 halftime lead. The Yellow Jackets made seven first-half three-pointers and shot 56 percent from the floor as a team. Randolph-Macon rookie Grayson Midulla knocked down four-of-five trifectas and led all students with 12 points at the break.

Guilford came out on fire in the second half and made 12 of its first 14 shots from the floor. The Quakers outscored Randolph-Macon, 29-13, in the first nine minutes of the half. Rookie Carson Long hit three three-pointers in less than two minutes for nine points during the decisive swing and Freeman added seven. A Freeman bucket with 7:56 remaining opened the Quakers' largest advantage.

The Yellow Jackets whittled their deficit down to two and trailed, 75-73, after a Daniel Noe three-pointer. Freeman answered at the other end with a traditional three-point play as the shot clock was winding down. The points restored a 78-73 Guilford lead.

Midulla was fouled at the other end with 15 seconds left and made both shots to get within 78-75. The Yellow Jackets quickly fouled Jarrod Rogers and the sophomore made both free throws to provide the final margin and seal a split of the season series with the Yellow Jackets.

Four Quakers scored in double-figures, led by Freeman's 22. Alston Thompson had 12 points, including a thunderous one-handed fast-break dunk with 2:39 left that slowed Randolph-Macon's rally. He also had six rebounds, two blocks and two assists. Dominique Henderson also scored 12 points for the Quakers and Long finished with 11. Zachary Houston scored three points, but led the Quakers with seven rebounds and a game-high nine assists. Guilford shot nearly 51 percent from the floor as a team, including seven-of-13 from three-point land. The Quakers won the battle of the boards, 35-21, and scored 11 second-chance points to the Yellow Jackets' four.

Midulla's 19 points and five three-pointers paced the Yellow Jackets, who shot nearly 52 percent as a team. Michael Taylor scored 15 of his 17 points in the second half, during which time Noe netted 11 of his 17 points. Randolph-Macon's Lamont Moore added 11 points and nine assists.

Coach Tom Palombo's Quakers visit league-leading Virginia Wesleyan College Wednesday (2/20).