GREENSBORO, N.C. – The Greensboro College men's basketball team fell in its season opener to Guilford College Tuesday, in the Greensboro Coliseum, 69-52.
 
After struggling to find the basket early, Guilford (1-0) took a narrow three-point lead before Dominic Fumbanks brought the Pride even with his lone three-point basket of the evening.
 
Following the Fumbanks three pointer, Guilford opened its largest lead of the game at 16-8 following a 13-5 run. Hamilton Hawkins and Darus Maddox combined for four of Greensboro points, while Donavan Griffith accounted for the last point.
 
Greensboro was then able to cut the deficit to one with three minutes to play in the half, following a 9-2 run of their own. Matteo Baggio got the run started with a pair of free throws before Zedric Barnett and Griffith capped off the run with back-to-back baskets.
 
Guilford quickly extended its lead back to seven, but Griffith sent Greensboro into halftime trailing 24-20 with his first long range shot of the day.
 
Five minutes into the second half, Joseph Gatling converted on an old fashion three-point play to tie the score at 31.
 
Despite Guilford retaking a narrow lead just seconds later, Gatling hit from long range on Greensboro's next possession to give the Pride its lone lead of the contest.
 
The two teams then traded buckets for the remainder of the game, but Guilford was able to hold off Greensboro for the victory.
 
"It was a tough game tonight as I think both team really struggled offensively," Head Coach Bryan Galuski said. "We just did not play good basketball tonight.
 
"Our identity this year is defending, running the floor, and rebounding. We did not do the rebounding part very well tonight. There were some positives in the game but the rebounding was certainly disappointing."
 
The Pride was out rebounded by a wide margin despite a double-double performance by Griffith, who pulled down a team-high 13 boards, while contributing 15 points.  On the defensive end of the floor, Greensboro recorded 13 blocks. Corey Burnette had a game-high six blocks, while Torrance Outing, Fumbanks, Lorenzo Marry, Matteo Baggio, Gatling, and Griffith combined for seven blocks.
 
Greensboro will return to action at 7 p.m. Tuesday when they open their 2016-2017 home slate against the Wildcats of Randolph College. For more information on Greensboro College men's basketball, continue to follow www.greensborocollegesports.com.