LEXINGTON, Va.Â
–Â
Keishawn Pulley Jr. (Richmond, Va./St. Christopher's School) dropped 32 points as #4 Randolph-Macon held off a strong offensive performance from Washington and Lee on the road.
Score:Â Randolph-Macon 88, Washington and Lee 78
Venue:Â Holekamp Gym
Records:Â #4 Randolph-Macon (19-3, 12-1 ODAC), Washington and Lee (14-8, 8-5 ODAC)
How it Happened:
- The Generals started the scoring with a three pointer on their first possession. Daniel Mbangue (Fairfax, Va./Fairfax) answered on RMC's first possession with a jumper in the lane. The Generals had an 8-4 lead before Jabril Robinson (Rockville, Md./South Kent Prep) drained a triple to make it 8-7. Both teams kept pace with each other for much of the first half, nearly scoring at will. RMC used a 7-0 run to extend their lead out to 28-20 with 4:41 left in the first. Two points were scored in the final two minutes of the half as RMC took a 33-28 lead into the halftime break.
- Will Coble (Greensboro, N.C./Davidson Day) started the second half with a three to push the score to 36-28 but a 7-0 run for W&L cut the lead back to one. The Generals wouldn't let RMC extend their lead, getting to the free throw line consistently to keep the score within striking distance. RMC finally got the lead out to double-digits after a Keishawn Pulley Jr. three pointer with 7:52 remaining, making the score 61-51. The Generals brought the score back within five at 69-64 with 5:08 to go. The Yellow Jackets had shot just two free throws in the first 36 minutes of the game but shot 19 in the final four minutes to hold off the W&L comeback attempt, winning the shootout 88-78.
Inside the Numbers:
- Keishawn Pulley Jr. had a career-high 32 points on 11-24 shooting and knocked down five threes. He also finished with six rebounds and three steals without a turnover. His 32-point performance marks the first 30-point game by an RMC player since Buzz Anthony scored 32 points against Shenandoah on Feb. 12, 2022.
- Jabril Robinson added 22 points, knocking down four threes for his sixth 20-point game of the season.
- RMC won the battle on the board 43-27 and 20-5 on the offensive glass. The Generals came into the game as the 39th-best rebounding team in the nation, averaging 41.3 per contest. The 20 offensive rebounds are the most in a game for RMC since having 23 against Lebanon Valley on Dec. 29, 2019.
- Reigning ODAC Player of the Week Daniel Mbangue finished with 12 points on 6-10 shooting with seven rebounds.
- The Yellow Jackets had just seven total turnovers and just one in the second half, lowering their season average of 9.5 turnovers per game coming in, which places them sixth in the nation.
- RMC shot 17-21 (81%) from the free throw line, despite shooting just two free throws to W&L's 30 in the opening 36 minutes.
- W&L's 78 points marks the first time this season a team has scored 70+ points against RMC and the most points for an opponent since Hood scored 78 in the tipoff tournament of the 2022-23 season.
- RMC has now won 14 straight games and 18 of their last 19.
Up Next
- Randolph-Macon will return home on Saturday for alumni day against Ferrum at 2:00 p.m.
