(14) Ben L. Smith pulls away in fifth rematch with (19) Dudley
At long last, Ben L. Smith can close the book on their 2023-24 battles with rival Dudley.
The fifth iteration of the Greensboro showdown ended the same way that three of the previous four had, with Golden Eagles on top. The 73-64 victory sends Smith to Friday's second round on the road at Central Davidson.
Right from the opening tip, it was a back and forth battle. C.J. Jones and LiShawn Speller nailed from downtown and were two of five Panthers to score in the opening period.
Their 14 first quarter points would not be enough to hold off the Golden Eagles through the opening eight as they led 17-14 thanks to 10 combined points from Gage Lattimore and Kenny Miller Jr.
Ben L. Smith was never able to create significant separation in the game but it did a great job of maintaining the lead that it had in hand.
Miller Jr. poured in 8 of his team-high 19 points in a big second quarter for the Golden Eagles. Kendrick Johnson pitched in with 5 in the frame to hold off two more three's from Speller and 7 in the period from Jones.
Leading 37-31 at the break, Ben L. Smith managed to pick up another point in the third to take a 47-40 advantage into the game's final quarter.
That's when Miller Jr. and Johnson were at their best. The home crowd watched their junior backcourt duo combine for 17 fourth quarter points to put the game on ice. Jaylon Bumpass, who finished with 13, added 8 of his points in the final two quarters.
Despite C.J. Neely and Jerron Blackwell teaming up for 22 of Dudley's 24 points in the fourth, it would not be enough to complete the comeback.
Ben L. Smith took the first meeting between the two teams at the HAECO Invitational in December. Dudley got its revenge in late January with a 53-48 victory only to see the Golden Eagles win a thrilling triple overtime contest just a week later, 83-75. Last Thursday, Smith go the better of the Panthers in their conference tournament semi-final matchup, 89-74.
The win will send the Golden Eagles on the road to 3-seed Central Davidson on Friday night.
