GREENSBORO — Here's a rule of thumb and several fingers: If your third-leading returning scorer is a first-team preseason All-American, you're more loaded than an angioplasty-inducing baked potato.
That's the deal with the Guilford Quakers, who applied the butter, bacon and an unhealthy dose of sour cream to the Greensboro College Pride on Wednesday night by scoring the evening's first 28 points in a 76-49 victory at the Greensboro Coliseum.
"Jumping out like that? We weren't expecting that, but it's always nice when it happens," said guard Clay Henson, who delivered a game-high 14 points in 16 minutes. "And I guess it doesn't happen that often."
Guilford, the nation's third-ranked Division III team, used its starters for only 29 of a possible 100 collective minutes in the second half. Center Tyler Sanborn, the aforementioned third wheel (at least by one numerical standard), didn't need to make much of a statement after three quick hoops. He was one of 12 Guilford players to see action in a first half that got out of hand.
Sanborn, Henson and Rhett Bonner return to the Quakers from a 26-6 team that made the NCAA Division III Final Four. And they looked like they belong at a higher level on this night.
Guilford didn't simply score on its first 12 possessions. It rang up 28 points in that span. The New Orleans Saints don't always do that.
"We were hot, and they were cold," Bonner said. "When they missed, we looked to push."
In short order, biggest challenge for Quakers coach Tom Palombo involved mitigating the carnage. The best news on that front came when the 6-foot-11 Sanborn picked up his second foul midway through the first half and Palombo had probable cause to sit him. Going with four guards and 6-4 center Martin Stephenson slowed the scoring pace but couldn't halt it entirely. Guilford led 40-3 when Josh Pittman drove in for a layup with 9:46 still left in the half.
What followed certainly wasn't going to change the identity of the winner, but the Pride did find some offensive flow after an 0-for-13 start from the floor. On the other end, center Lewis Owenby set a school record with seven blocks; the previous standard was four.
"The Greensboro guys never gave up," Palombo said. "They didn't play the scoreboard, and we tried not to play the scoreboard."
Guilford (2-0) didn't look the least bit tired from Tuesday's season-opener, a 91-72 win over Methodist. That's probably because 10 guys played 11 or more minutes and only Bonner logged more than 25 in that one. On Wednesday, Palombo had essentially cleared the bench with 14 minutes left.
Pride coach Bryan Galuski can only hope Wednesday was an aberration caused by the Quakers, whose superior athleticism was more obvious than a cleric at a biker rally.
The Quaker veterans said they were still hacked off from the teams' meeting two seasons ago. Back then, the Pride walked into Ragan-Brown Field House and left with an upset win.
"At that time, we were third in the country also," Henson said. "They came in there and took it to us.
"Our hardest opponent is us. We know that if we do what we're supposed to do, we're capable of winning."
Guilford prevailed in the women's game 81-69. The Quakers went 18-for-20 at the foul line and 9-of-18 from 3-point territory to overcome the Greensboro tandem of Nikki Wilborn and Bianca Richburg, who combined for all but 14 of their team's points. Ann Seufer led the Quakers with 18 points in the season-opener for both clubs.
MEN
GUILFORD (2-0) — Henson 5-13 3-3 14; Bonner 4-10 2-2 12; Sanborn 5-9 1-1 11; Lowder 2-5 3-4 7; Pittman 3-6 0-0 7; Stephenson 3-6 0-0 6; Akinsola 3-5 0-2 6; Stafford 2-2 0-0 4; Anderson 1-1 0-0 3; Monroe 0-0 2-2 2; High 1-6 0-0 2; Tracy 0-4 2-2 2; Cooney 0-2 0-0 0; Best 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 29-69 13-16 76.
GREENSBORO (0-2) — Owenby 6-12 0-0 12; Baker 5-5 0-0 12; Moss 3-13 3-4 9; Powell 3-13 1-2 7; Brady 2-6 1-1 5; Tijani 1-2 0-03; Davis 0-5 1-2 1; Auslander 0-0 0-0 0; Jenkins 0-0 0-0 0; Brown 0-3 0-0 0; Porter 0-3 0-0 0; Jones 0-0 0-0 0; Smith 0-6 0-2 0. Totals 20-68 6-11 49.
Hafltime — Guilford 54-17.
3-point goals — Guilford 5-18 (Bonner 2-4; Pittman 1-4; Anderson 1-1; Henson 1-4; Tracy 0-3; Cooney 0-1; Lowder 0-1), Greensboro 3-18 (Baker 2-2; Tijani 1-2; Powell 0-7; Davis 0-2; Brown 0-2; Smith 0-2; Moss 0-1).
Fouled out — None.
Rebounds — Guilford 53 (Sanborn 7), Greensboro 37 (Owenby 8).
Assists — Guilford 12 (Bonner 4), Greensboro 12 (Smith 3; Davis 3).
Total fouls — Guilford 12, Greensboro 13.
A —1,050.
WOMEN
GUILFORD (1-0) — Seufer 5-10 4-4 18; Williams 6-12 3-4 15; Gibbs 4-10 2-2 12; Atwater 3-5 1-2 9; Wood 1-2 6-6 8; Miles 2-6 0-0 4; Carden 2-3 0-0 4; Terry 1-3 2-2 4; LeFevers 1-4 0-0 3; Barker 1-2 0-0 2; Hayes 1-1 0-0 2; Weeks 0-0 0-0 0; Johnson 0-1 0-0 0; Birdsall 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 27-59 18-20 81.
GREENSBORO (0-1) — Wilborn 11-29 5-5 33; Richburg 8-14 6-8 22; Kelly 3-7 0-0 8; Surratt 1-6 0-0 3; Ferguson 1-6 1-2 3; Minor 0-0 0-0 0; Cooper 0-1 0-0 0; Joyce 0-1 0-0 0. Totals 24-64 12-15 69.
Halftime — Guilford College 38-23.
3-point goals — Guilford 9-18 (Seufer 4-9; Gibbs 2-3; Atwater 2-3; LeFevers 1-3), Greensboro 9-23 (Wilborn 6-13; Kelly 2-5; Surratt 1-1; Ferguson 0-3; Richburg 0-1).
Fouled out — Miles, Wood.
Rebounds — Guilford 38 (Williams 7), Greensboro 35 (Richburg 17).
Assists — Guilford 18 (Seufer 4; Wood 4), Greensboro 15 (Kelly 4).
Total fouls — Guilford 16, Greensboro 19.
A — 600.
Photo Caption: Guilford College center Tyler Sanborn puts up a shot as Greensboro College's Lewis Owenby defends. Sanborn had 11 points and a team-high 7 rebounds.
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