Guilford Moves Past EMU into Semifinals

Hot First Half Keys Victory

February 29, 2008  -  Box Score

SALEM, Va. --- The ODAC Men’s Basketball Tournament opened with seedings in place in Friday afternoon as #1 Guilford College made its way past Eastern Mennonite University, 81-66, in the Salem Civic Center.  The Quakers, now 22-4 on the season, await the winner of Roanoke College and Washington and Lee University in Saturday’s first semifinal.  The Royals bow out with a 9-17 overall record.

The victory marks the 14^th straight for Guilford, which ties a program high set back in the 1974-75 season.

The Quakers opened a 20-point halftime lead thanks to a 52.5-percent shooting performance.  Caleb Kimbrough hit all five of his field goal attempts, four coming from beyond the arc, for 14 points.  Ben Strong added 13 first half markers and six rebounds.  Brad Parkes went for nine points and six boards in the opening 20 minutes of play.

Strong finished with a game-high 23 points and 11 rebounds to register his league- and career-high 19^th double-double.  Tyler Sanborn added 12 points and a career-best 15 rebounds.  Kimbrough was held scoreless in the second half, finishing with 14 points and Martin Stephenson chipped in a personal-best 11 points.

Parkes and Corey Bailey paced Eastern Mennonite with 12 points apiece.  Parkes added seven boards while Bailey collected five caroms.  D.J. Hinson had seven points and six rebounds.

Guilford plays in Saturday’s first men’s semifinal at 6:00 p.m. on Saturday, March 1.  Game time is set for 6:00 p.m. in the Salem Civic Center.