GREENSBORO, N.C. – Parris Scales and Simeon Howard each tallied a double double as the Pride men's basketball team topped the Panthers of LaGrange College Monday, 81-78.
 
With the Pride (10-7, 4-2 USA South) trailing just five minutes into the game, Greensboro established an 14-8 lead following a 9-0 run. Zedric Barnett started the run with a three-pointer before Howard recorded five points, while Donavan Griffith capped off the spurt with his first basket.
 
The Panthers (13-4, 4-2 USA South) then doubled up Greensboro over the next four minutes to take a 22-21 lead.
 
LaGrange then established its largest lead of the half at 30-25 before going into the intermission with a 37-36 lead.
 
"We told the guys that they needed to do a better job rebounding and defending in the second half if we were going to win," Associate Head Coach Jim Cantamessa said.
 
Greensboro took the half-time message to heart as it opened the second half on a 10-2 run to take a 46-39 lead. The Pride out rebounded LaGrange 4-0 during the run, with three of the rebounds resulting in six second-chance points.
 
The Panthers battled back to take their final lead of the game at 60-59 before the Pride quickly jumped back out in front by two on a Howard three-pointer.
 
Greensboro established its largest lead of the contest at 76-68 before winning 81-78.
 
"If we get consistent play from the nine guys that played tonight, we can continue to win," said Cantamessa.  "There were times in the game that we had to grind it out, but the guys were able to pull it out with a good team effort.
 
"We have to keep working hard with improving our defensive intensity and offensive efficiency as we continue on throughout the rest of the season."
 
Howard finished with a team-high 19 points and 12 rebounds, while Scales contributed 18 points and a team-high 13 rebounds. Joseph Gatling finished with 18 points as well after leading the Pride at the break with 12 points. Christopher Corbin dished out a team-high four assists, while Griffith and Gatling each had three.
 
The Pride out rebounded the Panthers 45-40 and cashed in 11 points on nine LaGrange turnovers. Greensboro shot 48 percent from the field in the second half after shooting only 46 percent in the first half.
 
Justyn Olson paced the Panthers with a team-high 15 points, while Mark Wagner and Elijah Adedoyin each finished with 14 points. Wagner pulled down a team-high eight rebounds.
 
The Pride men will return to action Friday at 7:30 p.m. when they travel to take on the Scots of Covenant College. For more information on Greensboro College men's basketball, continue to follow www.greensborocollegesports.com.