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Curry leads Davidson to easy win over Guilford

Nov 15, 2008 - 6:15 AM DAVIDSON, North Carolina (Ticker) -- Stephen Curry showed that his transition to point guard will not affect his scoring.

The junior sharpshooter scored 29 points and had career highs with 10 assists and nine steals as 20th-ranked Davidson posted a 107-83 victory over Division III Guilford on Friday.

Curry shot 9-of-20 from the floor, including 3-of-8 from the arc for the Wildcats (1-0), who advanced to the regional finals last season before bowing out to eventual champion Kansas.

He was one steal shy of the second triple-double in school history.

"He did not try to over-pass the ball, over-dribble the ball. He just gets better and better," Davidson coach Bob McKillop said. "I actually like the fact that he had two fouls, because I think that's a good experience to play with two fouls."

The 6-4 guard has averaged over 20 points during his first two campaigns, but is shifting to point guard this season with the departure of Jason Richards.

Curry scored nine quick points and Stephen Rossiter had eight as Davidson held a 25-8 lead with 13:20 left in the first half.

Clay Henson kept the Quakers in the game, scoring 18 first-half points but Guilford could not stay within striking distance after the intermission.

"Some things jump off the charts at you - they outrebound us, 39-31," McKillop said. "Give Guillford credit. Undersized, yet fought and never gave up. If we didn't steal the ball, they made a shot."

Davidson used a 24-5 run to open the second half and extend a 12-point halftime lead to 80-49 with 11:45 left to play. The Wildcats were never threatened again.

"Our defense is crafted on five guys all being alert and ready," McKillop said. "We talked all about communication. I think our defense improved dramatically in the second half but we need to have more consistency."

Andrew Lovedale scored 16 points and Brendan McKillop added 14 for Davidson, which forced 39 turnovers.

The Wildcats, who are ranked in the preseason poll for the first time since the 1969-70 campaign, turned a school-record 25 steals into 55 points off turnovers.

Henson scored 21 points to lead Guilford (0-1), which made 12-of-23 from the arc.