ASHLAND, Va.Â
–Â
Daniel Mbangue (Fairfax, Va./Fairfax) poured in 18 points as #3 Randolph-Macon men's hoops clinched the ODAC regular season title with a 65-44 win in the regular season finale over Washington and Lee on Saturday.
Score:Â Randolph-Macon 65, Washington and Lee 44
Venue:Â Crenshaw Gym
Records:Â Randolph-Macon (22-3, 15-1 ODAC), Washington and Lee (16-9, 10-6 ODAC)
How it Happened:
- The Generals jumped on RMC early, opening an 8-4 lead in the first four and a half minutes of the game. The Yellow Jackets went on a 7-0 run to gain the lead at 11-8. The two teams traded buckets until Margad Choijilsuren (Fairfax, Va./Fairfax) ignited an 8-0 run to end the half with the Yellow Jackets up 26-18 through 20 minutes.
- A layup by Will Coble (Charlotte, N.C./Davidson Day) and a pair of threes by Keishawn Pulley Jr. (Richmond, Va./St. Christopher's School) helped RMC extend the lead out to 14 at 34-20 just three minutes into the half. Later, a 9-2 run extended the lead further when Daniel Mbangue (Fairfax, Va./Fairfax) and Lance Johnson (South Riding, Va./Freedom) got the RMC lead to 45-26. Mbangue had six points in a minute to stop a short W&L run and RMC cruised to the finish, scoring nine of the final 11 points of the game to win 65-44.
Inside the Numbers:
- Daniel Mbangue finished with team highs in points with 18 (also a season-high) and rebounds with eight. He shot 8-12 from the field and had two blocks and a steal.
- Keishawn Pulley Jr. followed up his 36-point game on Wednesday by hitting four threes for 12 points and six rebounds.
- RMC outrebounded the Generals 39-33.
- W&L shot just 3-20 (15%) from deep. RMC came into the game 21st in the nation in three-point percentage defense, allowing teams to shoot just 29% on the year.
- 42 of the 65 points for RMC came in the paint, compared to W&L's 28.
- Margad Choijilsuren totaled nine points and five rebounds off the bench.
For the Record:
- With the win, Randolph-Macon has clinched the ODAC regular season title, finishing 15-1 in conference play. Since 2018-19, RMC is 80-3 in regular season conference play, winning the ODAC regular season all but one time in that span.
- RMC has now won 17 consecutive games.
- Randolph-Macon is 93-6 in Crenshaw Gym since the beginning of the 2016-17 season.
Up Next
- Randolph-Macon will be the top seed in the ODAC tournament in Salem, Va. And will play at 1:00 p.m. on Thursday against the winner of 8-seed Shenandoah and 9-seed Lynchburg.
