The fifth-seeded Quakers overcame a higher seed for the third time in the conference tournament on Sunday afternoon in the Salem Civic Center, grinding out a 79-74 win over third-seeded Roanoke College for the program’s fifth ODAC title. Guilford will now enjoy the ODAC’s automatic entry into the NCAA Division III Men’s Basketball Championship field of 64 teams. The bracket is slated to be released at 12:00 p.m. ET on Monday on ncaa.com.
Guilford (22-6) last won the league crown in 2019 as the second seed. This year, the Quakers earned a quarterfinal win at fifth-seeded Virginia Wesleyan University on Wednesday and snapped top-seeded Randolph-Macon College’s 20-game winning streak in the semifinals on Saturday before defeating Roanoke (23-5) on Sunday.
Free throw shooting played a major role between the Quakers and Maroons. Guilford went 15-of-16 from the stripe — all in the second half — including converting its final 11 attempts with several down the stretch. Roanoke, conversely, was just 7-of-17 from the foul line.
Tournament MVP Nick Farrar led all players with 21 points and 12 rebounds for his sixth double-double of the season. Fellow All-Tournament Team members Chase Ellis and Luke Proctor added 13 and 12 points, respectively, while Caleb chipped in 10 markers. Those four Quakers combined to go 14-of-14 from the line.
Jackson Bell led Roanoke with 20 points on 8-of-12 from the field including 4-of-6 from three-point range. Teammates Marcus Morgan and Joshua McClary earned All-Tournament Team recognition. Morgan finished with 18 points, seven rebounds, four assists, and three steals, while McClary went for 16 points, six rebounds, seven assists, and a pair of steals.