From Emory University Athletics

Emory senior Jim Gordon's short jumper off a missed Emory free throw attempt with 4.3 seconds left in the second overtime proved to be the game-winning shot in a Saturday evening win at Guilford College. The Eagles captured the Guilford Invitational and raised their overall record to 2-1 following a thrilling 69-69 decision over the Quakers who fell to 2-1.

After Guilford took a 66-65 lead with 18 seconds left following a bucket by Jarrod Rogers, Emory called timeout with 12 seconds on the clock. After Emory inbounded the ball, Gigax received a pass from Whit Rapp and was fouled with six ticks remaining.  Gigax missed both attempts, but senior Austin DaGue tipped the ball to Gordon who then converted the bucket.  On Guilford's ensuing possession, it turned the ball over and fouled Gordon who calmly knocked down a pair of foul shots with two seconds left. In a last-ditch effort, the Quakers' attempt at a three pointer missed its mark, giving Emory the win.

In a game that had numerous twist and turns, Emory shot 35.3 percent (24 of 68) from the floor compared to Guilford's 32.4 percent (23 of 71).  The Eagles launched 39 three-point attempts, sinking 12, while Guilford converted just seven of its 32 opportunities. Guilford finished with a 52-46 edge in rebounding.

Gigax led all players with a career-high tying 26 points, ending the contest sinking nine-of-14 from the floor, including a career-best tying six three pointers. Junior Christopher Avant scored all 11 of his points in the second half and overtimes, and figured prominently in the outcome. Trailing by a 57-55 count in the first overtime session, Avant battled for an offensive rebound off a missed three-point attempt and hit a bucket with one second left that knotted the score and forced the second overtime.  Late in regulation, with Emory trailing, 51-50, Avant snatched another offensive carom off a miss and was fouled with one second on the clock.  After missing his first attempt, he converted the second which forced extra time.  Avant tied senior Austin DaGue for team honors with a career-high 12 rebounds. Gordon was the other Emory player to finish with double-figure scoring with 10 points.

Emory trailed by a 44-42 score but used four straight points by Gigax to take a two-point lead with 6:50 on the clock.  However, the Eagles hit a dry patch and didn't score for nearly five minutes while Guilford scored seven straight points to claim a 51-46 advantage with 1:31 left in regulation. A layup by junior Whit Rapp followed by a Gigax jumper drew Emory to within one point with 1:15 remaining. Guilford maintained a one-point lead before missing the front end of a one-and-one with 12.8 seconds left that set the stage for Avant's free throw.

Guilford went into halftime with a 29-26 lead, thanks to a 12-2 run over the final 6:26 of the half that erased a 24-17 Emory advantage. The Eagles held a pair of eight-point advantages during the opening 20 minutes of action, the final one with 7:29 left on the clock following a three-point field goal by Gigax. 

Gigax paced the Emory scoring attack with 11 points, sinking four-of-six from the floor, including three three-point field goals in four tries. Gordon picked up six points on the strength of a pair of treys.  Emory shot 35.7 percent (10 of 28) from the field, including 35.3 percent (6 of 17) from beyond the arc, while the Quakers, who started out successful on just five of their first 21 attempts, hit 33.3 percent (10 of 30) of their field goal tries, just 15.4 percent (2 of 13) from distance. GC's Dominque Henderson led all players by scoring all of his 17 points during the opening 20 minutes of play.