Guilford Downs Methodist in Season Opener, 65-53

GREENSBORO, N.C. - Senior Gabriel Lowder (Yadkinville, N.C./North Forsyth) scored 10 of his team-high 13 points in the second half and sparked Guilford College to a 65-53 basketball win over visiting Methodist University Tuesday night.

While temperatures hovered near 70 degrees outside, shooting was cold inside the Ragan-Brown Field House as neither squad shot better than 31 percent from the floor. Lowder missed his first five shots of the game and a technical free throw before making three straight shots on as many possessions. The Quakers hadn't made a second-half field goal before Lowder stroked a three with 10:24 left in regulation, which opened a 40-31 Quakers' lead.

Following a Monarchs miss at the other end, Lowder knocked down another jumper and then came up with a steal, which led to his third straight bucket and a 44-31 Guilford edge at the 9:08 mark.

Methodist, which didn't shoot much better, trimmed a 10-point halftime to six before Lowder's spurt. The Monarchs made it a 10-point game on one of Blake Lanier's (Beulaville, N.C./East Duplin) three trifectas, but drew no closer. Guilford finished the game by making 15 of 16 free throws in the final 3:10, which helped it withstand a flurry of late Methodist three-pointers.

Sophomore Carson Sullivan (Charlotte, N.C./Charlotte Christian (Pennsylvania)) had 12 points and a team-high seven rebounds in his Quakers' debut. Junior Josh Pittman (Archdale, N.C./Trinity) also scored 12 and dished out a game-high four assists. Rookie Will Freeman (Fort Wayne, Ind./Richmond Senior (N.C.)) chipped in nine points and five boards off the bench. Guilford had a 45-40 rebounding edge, including 18 offensive boards that led to 14 points.

Methodist's James Whitehead (Columbia, S.C./Dreher) led all scorers with 18 points, 15 in the second half. Bryan Hockaday (Staten Island, N.Y./Curtis) added 11 points, eight boards and a game-high seven blocks. Lanier finished with 11 points off the bench. The Monarchs were whistled for 30 personal fouls, which led to 40 Quakers' free throws. Methodist shot 10-of-13 from the line.

Guilford turns around to visit crosstown-rival Greensboro College Wednesday (11/16) night in the Pride's Hanes Gymnasium at 7:30 p.m. The contest, typically played in the Greensboro Coliseum, is scheduled for campus sites for two years before returning to the Coliseum. The two schools' women's basketball teams play in Hanes Gym at 5:00 p.m.