GREENSBORO, N.C. – The Greensboro College men's basketball team fell to the Bears of Bridgewater College in the first game of the Guilford College Holiday Classic, 83-82.
 
Greensboro (5-4) opened the game on an 11-5 run before the Bears (7-3) responded with a run of their own to take a 14-11 advantage. Donavan Griffith sparked the opening run with five points, while Zedric Barnett, Lorenzo Marry, and Hamilton Hawkins combined for the remaining six points.
 
Later in the half with the game with the game tied at 27, Greensboro caught fire from three-point range and established its largest lead of the game at 41-27 with four minutes remaining in the half. Joseph Gatling hit three shots from long range early in the run before Barnett capped off the run with his second three-pointer of the game.
 
However, Bridgewater State was able to pull within 43-40 at halftime.
 
The Bears then continued their momentum in the early stages of the second period 49-43 lead.
 
Greensboro was able to battle back from the six-point deficit to tie the game at 55 before jumping out to a 60-56 lead following another Griffith basket.
 
The two teams traded baskets over the next several minutes before Bridgewater State found themselves holding onto a 79-72 lead with 2:20 remaining.
 
One minute later, Dominic Fumbanks pulled the Pride to within 81-78, but his free-throw for the old fashion three-point play ricocheted off the back of the iron before Marry tipped it in to pull the Pride to within 81-80.
 
After neither team was able to convert on their next possessions, Gatling put Greensboro on top 82-81 but a collapse in the Pride defense allowed the Bears to score the game-winning basket as time expired.
 
"We put ourselves in a great position to win the game and couldn't finish," Head Coach Bryan Galuski said. "The result tonight stings.
 
"We need to learn from it and move on, while not allowing it to happen again."
 
Gatling finished with a team-high 17 points, while Griffith added 15 points. Barnett and Fumbanks each finished with 11 points. Marry hauled in a team-high 11 rebounds.
 
The Pride men's basketball team will return to the hardwood for Day 2 of the Guilford College Holiday Classic at 3 p.m. Friday when they square off against Albion College. For more information on Greensboro College men's basketball, continue to follow www.greensborocollegesports.com.