ROCKY MOUNT, N.C. – The Greensboro College men's basketball team defeated the Rams of Columbia International University 84-70 Friday in its first game of the Roger Taylor Invitational hosted by North Carolina Wesleyan College.
 
The Pride (2-4) jumped out to a 10-0 lead. Parris Scales got the run started with a jumper in the paint before Simeon Howard scored six of his game-high 26 points.
 
Once Greensboro established the lead, CIU (2-7) climbed back to within 29-26 before Greensboro took a 38-30 lead into the intermission.
 
The Pride then established its largest lead of the game at 48-33 with a 10-3 run. Much like the run to open the game, Scales capped off a three-point play before Howard closed out the run with a floater in the lane.
 
The Rams pulled within 75-68 with three minutes to play, but Greensboro pulled away for the 14-point victory.
 
The Pride shot 55 percent (34-62) from the floor, while connecting on 57 percent (4-7) of its three-point shots. Greensboro also held a 51-33 advantage in rebounds.
 
"We shot the ball well from the field today, but we shot poorly from the free-throw line," Head Coach Bryan Galuski said. "As a team, we have to get better on the defensive side of the ball as we gave up too many points in crucial situations.
 
"Lorenzo Marry came off the bench today and provided us a big spark. We have to keep our focus as we have quick turnaround to play again (Saturday) afternoon against Maryland Bible."
 
Scales finished the evening with 17 points, while Donavan Griffith (13), Joseph Gatling (10) and Lorenzo Marry (10) also recorded double-digit scoring. To go along with his team-high score, Howard led Greensboro in rebounds with 14 to secure his second double-double of the season.
 
Ben Johnson led the Rams in scoring with 20, while Ryan Gibson pulled down a team-high seven boards.
 
The Pride will return to the court at 1 p.m. Saturday for its final game of the Roger Taylor Invitational against Maryland Bible College. For more information on the Pride men's basketball team, continue to follow www.greensborocollegesports.com.