GREENSBORO, N.C. — Averett University men's basketball used a strong second half to knock off No. 18 Guilford College 82-69 for a big non-conference road win on Tuesday night.
 
Down by one at the half, Averet (2-1) opened the second period with a 10-2 run to take a 42-35 lead in the first three minutes with the help of a pair of 3-pointers and a jumper by senior James Contreras Jr. The Cougars extended their lead to 11 points, 54-43, by the 11:51 mark before Guilford (2-2) slowly chipped away to get within four with seven minutes to play.

Clinging to a 63-59 lead with six minutes remaining, Averett rattled off an 11-2 run — fueled by two 3-pointers from junior Austin DeLucia — to push its advantage for a game-high 13 points. Averett sunk its last eight free throws over the final three and a half minutes to put the Quakers away.
 
DeLucia finished with a team 17 points, including five 3-pointers, while Contreras netted a team-high 19 points with six assists. Senior Darin Ketner matched his career-high of 14 points and freshman Montre' Cash chipped in 10 points and six rebounds. Junior Jalen Burnett and sophomore Ian Best each had eight points.

Averett opened the back with back-to-back 3-pointers by Burnett and Ketner. Guilford, however, was unfazed and surged ahead 9-6. Yet, neither team could pull away as they stayed within five points of each other the rest of the first half, with Carson Long putting the Quakers in front 33-32 with a layup in the final seconds before halftime.

Long totaled 20 points and five blocks to lead Guilford.

Averett shot a season-high 52.8 percent from the floor (28-for-53) and drained a season-high 14 3-pointers as a team for its best offensive output of the young season.

The Cougars play host to non-conference foe Lynchburg College on Monday at 7 p.m. in the Grant Center.