Emory University senior guard Michael Florin scored 21 points, including a game-winning off-balance jumper from the baseline with four-tenths of a second left in the second half to break a tie and give the 15th-ranked Eagles a 77-75 win over Guilford College at the Woodruff Physical Education Center on Saturday afternoon.
Just four-days removed from a 38-point, 16-rebound performance in the Eagles' season-opening win over Oglethorpe, senior forward Alex Foster added 23 points on nine-of-18 shooting from the field, and 14 rebounds for his second-straight double-double to open the season. 15 of his 23 points came in the second half, when he shot six-of-seven from the field, including three-for-three from long range.
Sophomore Austin DaGue added 11 points and five rebounds to cap off the Eagles' double-digit scorers.
Emory improved to 2-0 on the season with the win, while Guilford dropped to 3-1.
After the two teams went back-and-forth for the first five minutes of the game, the Eagles put some distance between themselves and the Quakers, going on a 10-0 run, including three-pointers from senior Max Davis and DaGue, to put Emory on top 19-10 with 10:47 remaining in the period.
Emory led by as many as 13 points in the first half, following a Josh Schattie jumper with 6:21 left in the frame. The Quakers would cut the Eagles' lead down to four with 1:51 remaining in the frame, but Emory would end the half on a 7-0 run to boost the lead to 42-31, heading into the locker room.
Florin paced the Eagles in the first half with 17 points on eight-of-12 shooting from the field, matching the second-highest single game total for his career. Foster added eight points and eight rebounds. Emory outrebounded Guilford 26-19 in the first 20 minutes of play, while holding the Quakers to 29.7% shooting from the field.
Guilford opened the second half on a 17-6 run, taking their first lead since the 17:42 mark in the first half, 49-48 on a three-pointer by Hunter Jackson. The Quakers would take a 57-53 lead, their largest of the game, with 9:56 left in the second, but Emory would respond with a 14-1 run to regain a nine-point advantage with 7:11 to play.
Guilford cut the lead back down to two with 1:24 remaining on a pair of free-throws by Trever Hyatt, and then evened the game on a jumper by Jonny Rice with just 24.9 seconds left, 75-75, before Florin's go-ahead jumper. Although time expired the scoreboard after Florin's go-ahead shot, the referees added four-tenths of a second back on the clock, giving the Quakers one-last chance, but the final buzzer sounded before Guilford could get off a last-second shot.
Emory shot 43.7% from the field for the game, including 33.3% from long range. The Eagles outscored the Quakers 27-8 on fast break opportunities in the game.
Jonny Rice and Matt McCarthy each finished with 16 points to lead Guilford, with Trevor Hyatt adding 15 points.
Emory will return to action after Thanksgiving, with games against LaGrange College on Saturday, November 29th and Maryville College (Tenn.) on Sunday, November 30th. Both games are scheduled for 4:00 PM tip-offs at the Woodruff Physical Education Center.