GREENSBORO, N.C. – Alex Gulotta made eight three-pointers and scored a game-high 26 points in Emory University's 69-61 victory at Guilford College in Saturday's Hilton Garden Inn Invitational Championship Game. Gulotta's second straight night of superb outside shooting helped the Eagles move to 3-0 on the season. The junior totaled 49 points in two games and made 15 three-pointers in 22 attempts.
Jaden Isler scored a game-high 20 points in McMurry University's 69-60 win over Averett University in Saturday's Hilton Garden Inn Invitational Consolation Game earlier in the day.
Gulotta made five three-pointers and Emory held Guilford to four field goals in the first half, which helped the Eagles to a 36-22 halftime lead. An 8-0 run featuring two more Gulotta trifectas opened a 44-22 Eagles' advantage early in the second half.
The Quakers (2-2), ranked 19th in the preseason D3hoops.com Top 25 Poll, reeled off the game's next 12 points to get back to within 44-34 with just under 15 minutes left. Austin Claunch and James Resnick answered with three-pointers for Emory, which restored a 16-point cushion. Gulotta's eighth and final three of the game opened a 57-40 edge with 8:47 left, but Guilford rallied to within 59-53 on a Justin Stafford basket with 5:27 remaining.
Guilford's comeback stalled, however, as the teams traded baskets for the next few minutes before Emory iced the win with four free throws in the final minute.
Jake Davis added 10 points and a team-high eight rebounds off the bench for Emory. Teammate Alex Greven also scored 10 points and had two of the Eagles' 12 three-pointers in the game. Claunch added nine points and a game-high seven assists.
After shooting just four-of-16 (25%) in the first half, the Quakers made 50 percent (17-34) of their second-half shots. Josh Pittman paced Guilford with 11 points. Martin Stephenson and Travis Tracy added 10 points apiece for the Quakers. Brad Monroe chipped in nine points, five rebounds and three steals off the bench. T.C. Anderson was held scoreless, but grabbed a game- and career-high 10 rebounds.
In the consolation game, McMurry raced to a 17-point first half lead before settling for a 38-27 halftime advantage. Averett turned the ball over 27 times in the game, including 14 times in the first half, which contributed to 13 McMurry points. The Cougars (1-3) eventually pulled to with six points with just under five minutes remaining, but McMurry sealed the win by making all six free throws in the final two minutes.
Isler scored 11 of his points in the second half and added six rebound and five assists. He played all but two minutes in McMurry's two tournament games. Forwards Teddy Chambers and Steven Jones both contributed 11 points. Jones, a nimble 6-3, 250-pound forward, added club-high nine rebounds, four assists and two steals.
Averett's Victor Cortes shared game-high scoring honors with 20 points, 12 in the first half. Steven Terry added 11 points off the bench thanks to three three-pointers. Marquis Scott had four points and a game-high 10 rebounds for the Cougars, who enjoyed a 48-29 rebounding advantage. Averett had 21 offensive boards, which led to 14 second-chance points.
Guilford visits Averett Tuesday (11/23) at 7:00 p.m. in a nonconference game in Danville, Va.
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