D.J. Hinson (Newport News, Va./Menchville) led all scorers with 22 points as the Eastern Mennonite University men's basketball team opens the 2008-09 season with a 76-73 nail biter over Greensboro College Saturday night in Yoder Arena.

EMU, which is hosting the Tip-Off Tournament, moves to 1-0 on the season while Greensboro drops to 0-1. In the second game of the night, Averett University held off a late Bridgewater College attack to gain a 84-79 decision over the Eagles. The second day of competition will feature Bridgewater College, as the home team, taking on Greensboro College at 2 p.m. Following that game, EMU will host Averett at 4 p.m.

The Royals hit almost 50 percent from behind the arc in the first period as Hinson added a pair of three-pointers with senior LeRoger Parrish (Danville, Va./Tunstall), and Rashawn Hannah (Woodbridge, Va./Forest Park) each going 1-for-1.

Even with the buckets falling for the Royals the visiting Pride kept the game within reach throughout the first frame and pulled ahead by two at the break on a bucket by Lewis Owenby (35-33).

Walter Brady had six boards and five points at the half for Greensboro.

EMU was paced by Hinson (10 points) and sophomore guard George Johnson (Richmond, Va./Miller School) who added another seven points in the first half.

The game continued to see-saw throughout the second half with EMU only able to move ahead by a lead of three midway through the frame. The Royals finally put the Pride down by more than one possession (four-point lead, 1:02 remaining) only to have the visiting team cut it down to two on a layup by R.J. Smith (19 seconds). The Pride forced EMU to the line with Johnson hitting 1-of-2 from the charity stripe. Greensboro got the ball back but an offensive foul gave the possession and the game back to EMU in the final seconds.

Sophomore Todd Phillips (Waynesboro, Va./Waynesboro) finished with his first career double-double, notching 11 points and 12 rebounds, while Johnson ended up with eight points and six assists.

Sophomore forward Orie Pancione (Augusta, WVa./Hampshire) had 10 points in the win for EMU.

The Pride was paced by Michael Mitchell who collected 16 points and 10 rebounds.

Brady recorded 15 points, 13 rebounds, and a pair of assists for GC.