ASHLAND, VA - No. 5 Randolph-Macon had three players score in double figures and used a 47 point second half, widening a  half-time advantage to take a 82-52 decision over Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts Tuesday night in the first night of the 2009 Rees Jewelers Classic being held in Ashland.

The Yellow Jackets advance to Wednesday night's championship game where they will take on No. 12 Williams at 7:00 p.m. The Ephs topped Elmira 85-64 in the tournament's opening contest.  Both teams are 9-0 this season and the two programs have combined for 422 wins this decade.  Elmira and MCLA will square off in the consolation game at 5:00 p.m.

Eric Pugh led R-MC with 16 points on the night, making all seven of his shots from the field, while dishing out a team-best four assists.  Calvin Croskey had 12 points, while Brandon Braxton had 10 in the win as well.  Braxton, Kevin Voelkel, Jordan Brown and Billy Campion led a balanced rebounding effort that saw the Jackets win the battle on the glass by a 47-36 margin. 

The R-MC defense held the Trailblazers to 33% shooting on the night, allowing just 20 made shots on 60 attempts and forcing 17 turnovers in the process.

Jon Greenberg who had 16 points and a game-high 12 rebounds in a losing effort paced MCLA (4-6) in the scoring. Mike Perreault chipped in with 11 points as well. 

R-MC held a 35-23 at the intermission and came out of the locker room and unleashed a 17-0 run to start the second stanza, taking a 29 point advantage on layup by Pugh. 

The Yellow Jackets were able to maintain the lead and stretched its advantage to as many as 35 when a Dylan Cole dunk made the score 71-36 with 6:40 to go in the game.

-Yellow Jackets-