CHARLOTTE, N.C. – Randolph-Macon men's basketball took down #11 Wisconsin Stevens-Point in a defensive minded game that came down to free throws to conclude the Jay Bilas Classic.
Score: Randolph-Macon 51, #11 Wisconsin Stevens-Point 50
Venue: Levine Center
Records: Randolph-Macon 6-3, Wisconsin Stevens-Point 9-1
How it Happened:
- Wisconsin Stevens-Point started the game two straight baskets to take an early 4-0 lead. The Yellow Jackets responded for the next five minutes, scoring ten straight points that was led by Liam Joyce (Allentown, Pa./Allentown Central Catholic) with six points, taking a 10-4 lead with 14:32 left in the half. The Pointers were able to gain momentum in the paint, rattling off six straight points to tie up the game with 11:44 on the clock. Randolph-Macon found success from behind the arc to help guide a 11-2 run. Jabril Robinson (Rockville, Md./South Kent Prep) started the run with a three ball and Keishawn Pulley Jr. (Richmond, Va./St. Christopher's) finished it off with another, giving the Lemon and Black their biggest lead at 21-12. With less than a minute left in the first half, Joyce made a layup to put Randolph-Macon up 27-20. Wisconsin Stevens-Point would score five quick points, capped off by a buzzer-beater three pointer, as the Yellow Jackets took a slim 27-25 lead into halftime.
- In the second half, Amr Areikat (Ramallah, Palestine./Langley) started scoring the Yellow Jacket's first four points. Malcolm Hodges (Richmond, Va./Monacan) got established in the paint, making back-to-back layups to up the lead to 35-28 with 13:43. The Pointers used impressive play on both ends of the court, going on a 12-3 run that lasted until the 6:19 mark in the game, taking a 42-38 lead. Randolph-Macon came out of a timeout and saw Robinson score a quick four points, trading points with the Pointers. Joe Bachman (Wilmington, N.C./Greensboro Day) made a putback to bring the Lemon and Black within one at 45-44 with 4:19 left in the game. Randolph-Macon took the lead back on a Robinson tough layup at the basket, but Wisconsin Stevens-Point would draw a foul and knock down two free throws to take the lead back 47-46 with 2:51 left. Pulley Jr. made a huge play with two minutes left, making a contested layup and added a foul shot to give the Yellow Jackets a 49-47 lead. The Pointers tied up the game with :10 seconds left on a jumper and Randolph-Macon would call a timeout for the final possession. Areikat forced Wisconsin Stevens-Point into a foul driving to the hoop with a second left in the game, the junior missed the first free throw and clutched up to make the second to ultimately win the game for Randolph-Macon 51-50.
Inside the Numbers:
- Randolph-Macon shot 38.6 percent from the floor, as Wisconsin Stevens-Point knocked down 37.0 percent of its shots.
- The Yellow Jackets outrebounded the Pointers 33-to-32 in the entire game.
- Pulley Jr. led in scoring with 13 points and added three rebounds and two assists.
- Robinson, Areikat and Joyce each ended the game with nine points.
- Hodges scored six points to go along with eight rebounds.
For the Record:
- This is the 22nd time since the beginning of the 2022-23 season that RMC has held their opponents to 50 points or less.
Up Next:
Randolph-Macon will face Stevenson on Saturday, Dec. 28 at 4:00 p.m. to kick off the Suyes Yellow Jackets Classic.
