FREDERICKSBURG, Va.Â
– Junior
Liam Joyce scored 17 points and grabbed nine rebounds, including a go-ahead layup in the final minute to push #7 Randolph-Macon Men's Basketball past Mary Washington in Fredericksburg on Thursday.
Score:Â #7 Randolph-Macon 58, Mary Washington 55
Venue:Â Â Anderson Center
Records:Â Randolph-Macon (2-2), Mary Washington (2-3)
How it Happened:
- The Yellow Jackets scored the first five points of the game on a Joe Bachman (Wilmington, N.C./Greensboro Day) layup and a triple by Theo Antinori (Asheville, N.C./Rabun Gap) on the first two possessions of the game. UMW would score the next seven points over the ensuing six minutes. After the Eagles led by two with 6:35 left in the first, UMW went on a 7-2 run that spanned four minutes to make the lead 23-16. Vincent Payne (Frederick, Md./St. Maria Goretti) hit a three ball to fuel a 7-0 run to end the half and tie the score at 23.
- Keishawn Pulley Jr. (Richmond, Va./St. Christopher's School) scored two layups to begin the second half, giving RMC a four-point lead. The lead changed hands multiple times throughout the frame, and UMW had a five-point lead at 48-43 with six minutes remaining before RMC stormed back to tie the score at 48. A free throw by the Eagles knotted the score at 55 with just over a minute to go, and on the ensuing possession, Liam Joyce (Allentown, Pa./Allentown Central Catholic) concluded his strong day with a go-ahead layup to push RMC ahead for good. A Delani Hammonds (Charlotte, N.C./Ardrey Kell) free throw sealed the win, 58-55.
Inside the Numbers:
- Joyce totaled 17 points and nine rebounds, both season-highs for the junior. He shot 7-8 from the free throw line.
- Jabril Robinson (Rockville, Md./South Kent Prep) finished with 10 points, grabbing seven rebounds, dishing four assists, while also getting a block and two steals.
- Hammonds tallied career-bests in points with seven, rebounds with four, and assists with three. He sealed the win with a free throw in the closing seconds.
- Ty Showalter (Charlotte, N.C./Butler) had a strong showing, finishing with eight points, three rebounds, and two blocks.
- RMC won the battle on the boards with a 45-30 rebounding advantage.
- UMW shot just 35.1% from the field and 18.8% from three, both season lows for an opponent this year.
- RMC had 31 bench points to just 11 for UMW.
For the Record:
- Six of the last seven matchups between the schools have been decided within six points.
Up Next:
- RMC will host #17 Guilford in the ODAC opener in Crenshaw Gym on December 4 at 7:00 p.m. The game is also the SWARM Game.
