ASHLAND, Va. - Randolph-Macon Men's Basketball used a defensive minded second half to defeat Lynchburg 85-60 and stay undefeated to kick off the new year on Saturday afternoon.
The Basics:
Score: #2 Randolph-Macon 85, Lynchburg 60
Venue: Ashland, Va. // Crenshaw Gym // Randolph-Macon College
Records: Randolph-Macon (11-0, 3-0 ODAC), Lynchburg (7-5, 2-1 ODAC)
How it Happened:
- Randolph-Macon took an early 7-2 advantage with Keishawn Pulley Jr. (Richmond, Va./St. Christopher's School) rattling off five points. Jamarcus Brown kept the Hornets close with a tough bucket in the lane, still trailing 9-7 with 17:11 on the clock. In the middle portion of the first half, Theo Antinori (Asheville, N.C./Rabun Gap) nailed a three-pointer to give the Lemon and Black a 19-12 lead. Lynchburg would score five straight points that was capped off by a Michael Gray three ball, pulling within one possession at 19-17. Both teams traded baskets for a big chunk of the half, keeping the game within one possession, but Randolph-Macon never giving up the lead. Pulley Jr. and Antinori led the Yellow Jackets in the final six minutes, gradually pushing the advantage to almost ten points with Antinori making a three-pointer, giving RMC a 36-29 lead with 4:29 left. The Hornets would again pull within one possession, as John Henderson made a pair of free throws with 1:09 left in the half, as the Yellow Jackets led 40-37. Pulley Jr. gave Randolph-Macon a much needed three ball with :24 seconds left in the half, giving the Lemon and Black a 43-37 lead at halftime.
- In the second half, Elijah Thomas made a bucket to keep Lynchburg within ten points at 54-46 with 14:14 left in regulation. The Yellow Jackets had a big 7-0 run soon after, punctuated by a Amr Areikat (Ramallah, Palestine./Langley) big three-pointer and shot the lead up to 61-46 with 13:03 on the clock. The defensive intensity was picked up by Randolph-Macon holding the Hornets to zero field goals, lasting over six minutes and scored eight points on free throws. The defense turned to offense and the Lemon and Black held a 71-54 lead, heading into the final six minutes of the game. Antinori made a free throw with 5:20 left in the game to give Randolph-Macon a 20 point lead at 77-57. In a second half of runs and defensive intensity, the win would go to the Yellow Jackets by a score of 85-60.
Inside the Numbers:
- Randolph-Macon shot 54.2 percent from the floor, as Lynchburg knocked down 38.8 percent of its shots. The Lemon and Black went 10-of-24 (.417) from behind the arc, compared to the Hornets shooting 5-of-21 (.238) from long range.
- The Yellow Jackets outrebounded the Hornets 40-to-28 in the entire game.
- Randolph-Macon was led in scoring by Pulley Jr. with 18 overall. The senior was 3-of-5 from behind the arc, adding four assists and three rebounds.
- Antinori and Areikat both ended the game with 11 points each. The duo combined for five rebounds, an assist, a block and a steal.
- Delani Hammonds (Charlotte, N.C./Ardrey Kell) scored nine points, pulled down five rebounds, assisted two buckets and blocked a shot.
- Ty Showalter (Charlotte, N.C./Butler) and Malcolm Hodges (Richmond, Va./Monacan) combined for 17 points, six rebounds, two assists, two steals and a blocked shot.
- Liam Joyce (Allentown, Pa./Allentown Central Catholic) rounded out the group with seven points and six rebounds.
Up Next
Randolph-Macon will head on the road to take on Averett on Wednesday, January 7 at 7:00 p.m.
