Quakers Defeat Averett for Second Time this Season
DANVILLE, Ky. --- Rhett Bonner (Yadkinville,
N.C./North Forsyth) scored 27 points and Clay Henson (Glen Alpine,
N.C./Freedom) added 23 to lead Guilford College past Averett
University, 91-81, Saturday night in a second-round NCAA Division
III Tournament game at Centre College.
With its 10th win in 11 games, Guilford (23-5) moves on to the
NCAA third round to play John Carroll College Friday (3/13) at a
sectional site to be announced Sunday. The Quakers are making
their second trip to the NCAA sectional round in three seasons.
Averett ends its season with a 20-9 record after falling to
Guilford for the second time this year.
Bonner scored 16 in the tightly contested first half, which saw
nine ties and 12 lead changes. His two free throws seven seconds
before halftime gave the Quakers a 42-21 lead headed into the
locker room. Guilford erased a 10-point deficit midway through the
first half thanks in part to 60 percent shooting from the floor.
Averett forced 10 turnovers in the first half and drained six
three-pointers.
Guilford opened the second half on a with a 17-6 spurt to open a
59-47 edge with 15:13 left in regulation. T.C. Anderson
(Morrisville, N.C./Green Hope) drained two three-pointers during
the run on the way to a career-high 12 points, all in the second
half.
Averett senior Jonathan Rumley (Winston-Salem, N.C./Glenn) put the
Cougars on his shoulders and singlehandedly rallied his team back
into the game. He scored 17 consecutive points for Averett, capped
by a three-pointer with 12:34 left that pulled the Cougars to
within 61-59. Rumley, the USA South Athletic Conference Player of
the Year, led all students with 29 points, six assists and four
three-pointers.
Guilford answered with 11 unanwered points that included a
traditional three-point plays by Tyler Sanborn and three-pointers
by Bonner and Henson. George Neville's (Westinster, Md./Winters
Mill) layup off a Bonner feed capped the Quakers' 11-0 run and
restored a 72-59 edge with 10:17 left.
Rumley and Kenny Hart (Suffolk, Va.) made back-to-back
three-pointers, which drew Averett to within 76-72 with 4:20
remaining, but solid free-throw shooting down the stretch restored
a 12-point Quakers' edge late in the game.
Sanborn recorded his team-leading 17th double-double with 19 points
and a game-high 14 rebounds. Neville finished with 10 points and 10
boards, including six off the offensive glass. The Quakers enjoyed
a 44-25 rebounding advantage and shot 55.6 percent from the floor
for the game.
Hart finished with 16 points and Damien Brown (Raleigh, N.C.) added
11 off the bench for Averett.
This release is courtesy of the Guilford College sports
information department.