ASHLAND, Va.Â
– Fourth-ranked RMC men's hoops hit 10 threes and had 19 assists as they downed 24
th-ranked Saint Joseph (Conn.) in the second round of the NCAA Tournament, 75-64.
Score:Â Randolph-Macon 75, Saint Joseph 64
Venue: Crenshaw GymÂ
Records:Â Randolph-Macon (25-4), Saint Joseph (25-5)
How it Happened:
- Saint Joseph scored on their first two possessions to take a 4-0 lead just a minute into the game. Keishawn Pulley Jr. (Richmond, Va./St. Christopher's School) then knocked down a three on a second chance opportunity to get RMC on the board. After USJ led 8-4, RMC stormed back with another three and a layup to tie the score at eight. The first lead of the game then came on a Daniel Mbangue (Fairfax, Va./Fairfax) layup to make it 10-8. Scoring came in bunches for both teams from that point, but RMC pulled away to a 29-18 lead with five minutes until the half. USJ made a living off getting to the free throw line as the opening frame went on, working their way back into striking distance. A triple by Theo Antinori (Asheville, N.C./Rabun Gap) in the final seconds of the half gave RMC a 42-31 lead heading into the break.
- The RMC offense was hitting on all cylinders to open the second half, going on a 16-6 run in the first six minutes to push the lead out to 20 after Antinori's third three of the night. USJ's defense locked down the RMC offense over the course of five minutes to cut the lead down from 18 to eight with 4:25 to go. The Blue Jays then cut it to six at 68-62 on the first possession after the under-four media timeout. The Yellow Jackets capitalized on free throws down the stretch and got key stops on defense that led to an eventual 11-point win to send RMC to the third round.
Inside the Numbers:
- Keishawn Pulley Jr. knocked down four threes for 23 points to couple with seven assists in the game.
- Theo Antinori notched a career-high 13 points, including shooting 3-6 from beyond the arc.
- Daniel Mbangue had a team-high 11 rebounds and eight assists. He also finished with two blocks and a steal.
- Malcolm Hodges (Richmond, Va./Monacan) was the third RMC player in double figures, scoring 11 points and hit five free throws. He also had four offensive rebounds as part of a seven-rebound performance.
- RMC shot 13-16 at the free throw line for 81%. It's the eighth time RMC has shot over 80% from the stripe this season.
- The Yellow Jackets had 18 second-chance points and 17 points off turnovers.
Up Next
- Randolph-Macon will move on to the third round and await their next matchup for next Friday night.
