GREENSBORO, N.C. – Sophomore Carson Long paced four Quakers in double-figure scoring with 19 points in Guilford College's 90-62 men's basketball victory over visiting North Carolina Wesleyan College Saturday afternoon.
The Quakers (7-2) won for the fifth time in six games thanks to a robust shooting effort that resulted in a season-best 54.0 field-goal percentage. Playing its second game in less than 24 hours, North Carolina Wesleyan (7-4) managed just 31.5 percent shooting from the floor.
Guilford broke open a close game with a 16-0 run midway through the first half, which sparked the Quakers to a 46-28 halftime advantage. The Quakers asserted themselves inside where sophomore Alston Thompson scored nine of his season-high 16 points in the opening frame. He also had five rebounds and two of his four blocks in the first half. Long dropped in 10 first-half points and two of his three three-pointers.
With leading scorer Adrian Moore (21.9 ppg.) limited to a 1-for-11 shooting night and just two points, the Battling Bishops struggled offensively. North Carolina Wesleyan could not muster a second-half comeback as the Quakers held their guests to four points in the first six-and-a-half minutes of the period. Justin Tankelewicz connected on four three-pointers and scored 12 of his game-high 22 points in the second half, but Guilford's lead grew to as many as 39 points, thanks to nearly 52 percent field-goal shooting.
Guilford freshman Kyler Gregory totaled 12 points and seven rebounds off the bench, both career highs in 15 minutes. Sophomore Marcus Curry chipped in 10 points and four boards in his first start as a Quaker. Their play, plus that of Long and Thompson, helped Guilford enjoy a 52-26 edge in interior scoring and a 49-25 margin in bench scoring. Jaylen Gore netted a career-high eight for Guilford and Zachary Houston finished with nine rebounds and four assists, both game highs.
Tankelewicz shot six-of-14 from three-point range in his 22-point showing for the Battling Bishops. Mitch Layton added 10 points, eight rebounds and three assists in 20 minutes off the bench.
Coach Tom Palombo's Quakers host the Guilford Holiday Classic December 29 and 30 in the Ragan-Brown Field House. Guilford plays Albion College on the 29th and Bridgewater State University the following day. Greensboro College is the fourth team in the four-team field.