Greensboro, NC - On Sunday afternoon, the Greensboro men's basketball team played host to the visiting Warren Wilson Owls. Both teams entered the contest eager to prove themselves as contenders in a season where both teams have struggled to find a win thus far. What unfolded was a dramatic overtime battle, with the Pride ultimately securing a hard-fought win over the visiting Owls.
Greensboro came out firing, scoring on deep threes from senior Isiah Pruett to gain an early edge in the first half. However, the Owls quickly found a rhythm and lead by as much as 14. Greensboro clawed back into the game by halftime though, trailing by just 8 points.
The second half saw momentum swing back and forth. The Pride turned up the defensive intensity to stay within striking distance. With just under 5 minutes left, Greensboro slowly eliminated the Owls' lead. The run was started by a pair of Grant Thompson free throws and was capped by a Griffin Powell three-pointer that knotted it up at 62 apiece at the 1 minute mark in regulation. Greensboro had a chance to win in regulation after a foul by the Owls with less than 5 seconds left, but couldn't convert either free throw, which forced overtime.
In overtime, Warren Wilson took a 68-66 lead with 1:03 remaining. On the next Pride possession, DJ Jackson hit a layup to tie the game up again, 68-68. After a missed jump shot by the Owls, Isaiah Pruett drove to the basket and converted a three-point play after hitting a layup and drawing a foul with just 4 seconds on the clock. On the ensuing inbound, Warren Wilson turned the ball over and the Pride picked up their first win of the season.
Greensboro was led by Isaiah Pruett, who posted a strong 23 point, 4 assist performance. DJ Jackson contributed 18 points, 4 rebounds, and 4 assists while Grant Thompson dominated the boards with 11 rebounds and adding 16 points. Other Pride players who contributed to the win were Griffin Powell, who had 6 assists, and Ryan Roberts, who had 10 rebounds.
The Pride have a short break before their next contest on December 14th when they travel to play in the LaGrange College Tournament. Tip-off is scheduled for 2:00 p.m.
- Written by Laniyah Oliver
