Inside Game Powers Guilford Past Villa Julie In Men's Hoops Opener
Greensboro, N.C. (11/17/07) -- Senior center Ben Strong totalled 29 points, 16 rebounds and a career-high eight assists as Guilford College defeated visiting Villa Julie College, 87-52, in both teams' men's basketball season opener Saturday night. The Quakers (1-0) are ranked fourth in this week's D3hoops.com NCAA Division III Top 25 Poll.
Villa Julie (0-1) stayed close in the first half behind the hot shooting of sophomore guard Greg Woody, who scored 16 of his team-high 20 points in the opening period. Strong had 14 at the break, which helped the Quakers to a 38-35 halftime lead. Guilford senior guard Caleb Kimbrough scored the second half's first hoop, after which Strong reeled off the Quakers' next 11 points. Villa Julie endured a six-and-a-half minute scoreless drought midway through the second half as Guilford opened a 29-point lead before emptying the bench with just under four minutes remaining.
Guilford outrebounded the shorter Mustangs, 60-27, and enjoyed a 26-0 edge in second-chance points. Villa Julie's tallest student was 6-7 Anatoly Smolkin, while the 6-11 Strong often played with 6-10 sophomore center Tyler Sanborn, who posted career highs of 14 points and 13 rebounds in his first college start. Junior George Neville grabbed nine boards off the bench, including seven off the offensive glass that contributed to his 20 points, two shy of his career high.
The Quakers visit crosstown-rival Greensboro College Nov. 28 in the Pride's Hanes Gymnasium.