The University of Mary Washington men's basketball earned its second win of the season on Saturday night in a tightly contested battle with Guilford College at Ron Rosner Arena in the Hyatt Place Tipoff Classic. Freshman Greg Rowson led the way for the Eagles with 19 points, as they improve to 2-0.
The lead swung back and forth six times in the opening four minutes, and after Guilford built a four-point lead at 10-6 with 13:49 left, the lead would change hands three times over the next several minutes before UMW would make the first run of the game. Three point baskets from A.J. Robinson and Da'Shawn Cook would give the Eagles a 21-20 lead, propelling a 13-0 run capped by three pointers from Riley Welch and Rowson to give UMW a 28-20 advantage with 5:00 remaining.
After a Mike Janowski three extended the lead to 10, Guilford answered with seven straight points of their own to trim the margin to 31-28 with 1:46 to play. The teams traded points, senind UMW to intermission with a 33-30 lead.
After a Guilford basket cut the margin tone to open the second half, Mark Madison hit a three pointer to push the lead to 36-32. Five straight points from Guilford gave them a one point advantage with 17:52 left, but a three pointer from Cook and a three-point play from Rowson gave UMW a 42-39 edge with 15:53 left. Madison hit a pair off ree throws to extend the lead to six, at 47-41, with 13:31 on the clock, but Guilford scored the next seven points to grab the lead at 48-47.
The teams would trade the next nine baskets, and a pair of Madison free throws finally gave UMW a two-possession lead at 60-56 with 6:47 remaining. A three pointer from Janowski and a pair of Johnny Cronin free throws upped UMW's lead to seven, at 67-60, with 4:15 left. Guilford trimmed the margin to three, at 72-69, with a three pointer with 1:08 left, but Rowson answered with a triple to give the Eagles a 75-69 lead with 42 seconds left.
Guilford would hit their next two three-point tries, but Rowson connected on all four of his free throw attempts in the final seconds to give UMW the two-point victory.
Rowson led the Eagles with 19 points, while Cook and Madison each had 15. Cronin scored nine points and hauled in 11 rebounds. Guilford was led by Marcus Curry's 23 points.
The Eagles shot 38.5% from the floor (25-65), making 14-39 three point tries, and 15-18 free throws. Guilford shot 40.6% (26-64), making 9-26 three point tries and 16-21 free throws. Guilford held a 49-35 rebounding advantage.
Mary Washington will host Ferrum College on Sunday at 3:00 p.m. in the final game of the weekend. Guilford will take on North Carolina Wesleyan College at 1:00 p.m.