ASHLAND, Va. – Senior Buzz Anthony (Arnold, Md./Archbishop Spalding) led all scorers with 23 points as the top-ranked Randolph-Macon men's basketball team downed No. 13 WPI 76-53 on Saturday evening in the Sectional Finals of the NCAA Tournament to advance to the Final Four for the third time in program history, extend its win streak to 25 games and reach 31 wins for the first time.

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The Basics:

Score: Randolph-Macon 76, WPI 53

Venue: Crenshaw Gymnasium

Records: R-MC 31-1, WPI 27-3

How it Happened:

• The Engineers had the first field goal of the game before a layup by junior Miles Mallory (Beltsville, Md./St. Vincent Pallotti) quickly tied the contest. WPI jumped ahead 6-2 before Anthony had seven points in a 20-6 run, capped by consecutive three-pointers by sophomore Will Coble (Charlotte, N.C./Davidson Day) and freshman Vincent Payne (Frederick, Md./St. Maria Goretti), as the Yellow Jackets took a 22-12 lead with 11 minutes remaining in the first half. For more than nine minutes, the R-MC defense held WPI to one field goal. The Engineers cut the deficit to five before two treys by Anthony highlighted a 10-4 spurt as the Yellow Jackets led 38-27 with 3:20 left. WPI again cut the deficit to five before Anthony had a layup for the final points of the first period as R-MC led 40-33. Anthony paced the Yellow Jackets with 15 points.
• WPI had the first bucket of the second half to pull within five before sophomore Daniel Mbangue (Fairfax, Va./Fairfax) had five points and Coble canned another trey for eight straight points by the home team and a 48-35 advantage with 15 minutes remaining. Senior Ian Robertson (Lewes, Del./Cape Henlopen) hit three treys and Anthony added two triples as the overall run was 25-6 over 14 minutes as the Yellow Jackets took a 65-41 lead with five minutes to go. After a three-point play by WPI, Mallory had a layup and Anthony sank two free throws as R-MC took its largest lead of 25 at 69-44 with four minutes remaining. Freshman Can Dalli (Turkey/Perkiomen School) hit a long trey to cap the scoring and make the final 76-53.

By The Numbers:

• The Yellow Jackets had two score in double figures. Anthony put up 23 and Mallory added 11.
• Anthony went 8 for 14 from the floor and 5 for 9 on three-pointers.
• Junior Josh Talbert (Virginia Beach, Va./Kellam) paced the victors with seven assists and Anthony dished out four.
• Anthony snagged five steals.

For The Record:

• R-MC reached the Final Four for the third time in program history and second time in Division III. The Yellow Jackets were national runners-up in Division II in 1977 and national semifinalists in 2010.
• The Yellow Jackets extended the program record for wins in a season with 31. R-MC had won 28 in 2002-03, 2014-15 and 2019-20.
• R-MC has won 25 straight games and 48 of its past 49 contests. The Yellow Jackets tied the program record for consecutive victories.
• The Yellow Jackets extended their home win streak to 47 games, the longest current streak in Division III. The program record for home winning streak is 50 games, from 1961-66.
• Over the past four seasons, R-MC is 98-7 overall (.933) and 49-2 in ODAC contests (.961).
• Mallory had four blocks to raise his season total to 85 and his career total to 184, both program records.
• Anthony had 23 points to give him 1,962 for his career, the third-highest total in program history.
• Anthony had four assists to give him 783 for his career, a program record.
• Anthony had five steals to give him 252 for his career, the most in program history.

Next Up:

Randolph-Macon will meet No. 2 Marietta in the National Semifinals on Friday, March 18 in Fort Wayne, Ind.