GREENSBORO, N.C. – The Greensboro College men's basketball team fell in their season opener to 18^th-ranked Guilford College Wednesday, 98-88.
 
Guilford College took an early one-point lead before Kyle Riddley sparked a 15-8 run that lasted 6:41 to give the Pride an 18-12 lead, in front of a capacity crowd in Hanes Gymnasium. Riddley hit his first three-pointer of the evening to start the run before connecting from long range two more times, which electrified the Greensboro faithful. Keyford Langley, Joseph Gatling and Darus Maddox then combined for the final seven points.
 
With Greensboro holding on to a four-point advantage following a dunk by Guilford's Carson Long, the Pride established their largest lead of the contest at 32-19 with 7:25 to play in the first half, aided by a 14-5 run that saw Greensboro connect on six-of-seven shots from the field.
 
This time it was Trey Smith hitting from three-point land, while Carmoni Marks hit layups on consecutive trips down the floor before Maddox hit from long range again to cap of the run.
 
Despite establishing the 13-point lead, Guilford was able to close out the final seven minutes of the half on a 23-10 to tie the game at 42 heading into the break.
 
Over the first three minutes of the second half, the Quakers were able to take a 46-42 lead, but Greensboro came roaring back with a 10-2 run to establish a four-point lead of their own at 52-48. The three-ball once again fueled the run for Greensboro as Smith and Gatling each connected from long range.
 
The two teams then traded baskets over the next seven minutes of play before Guilford went on a 10-2 run of their own to take a 73-66 lead with 7:33 to play.
 
Greensboro did not back down from the Quakers.
 
The Pride answered right back with a 12-6 run to pull within one point at 79-78. Gatling scored nine of his 19 points during the run, while Marks accounted for the remaining three points.
 
Despite a strong effort over the final seven minutes, the Pride was not able to get any closer, falling by the 10-point margin.
 
"We have to do a much better job of rebounding the basketball," Head Coach Bryan Galuski said. "I think we did a really good job of playing unselfish basketball by moving the basketball around. I really think our shooting is going to be one of our strongest points this season. If we can move the ball around and get everyone involved then we can be a very successful.
 
"Despite the result, there was a lot of positives that we can take from tonight. I thought we had a really good crowd tonight and they saw a really good college basketball game."
 
Riddley finished with a team-high 21 points, while Maddox (18) and Smith (13) also scored in double figures. Gatling, who finished with 19 points, added 10 rebounds to record his seventh double double of his career.
 
The Pride men will return to action at 7 p.m. Tuesday when the travel to Lynchburg, Va. to take on another ODAC team, the Wildcats of Randolph College. For more information on Greensboro College men's basketball, continue to follow www.greensborocollegesports.com.