ASHLAND, Va. -
Theo Antinori (Asheville, N.C./Rabun Gap) recorded his first career double-double with 16 points & 10 rebounds to guide Randolph-Macon to the ODAC Semifinals, defeating Guilford 94-73.
The Basics:
Score: #1 Randolph-Macon 94, Guilford 73
Venue: Ashland, Va. // Crenshaw Gym // Randolph-Macon College
Records: Randolph-Macon (24-2, 14-2 ODAC), Guilford (13-13, 7-9 ODAC)
How it Happened:
- Guilford opened the game with a quick 5-1 run, highlighted by a three-pointer by Gabe Proctor. The Yellow Jackets answered with back-to-back lay-ups by Keishawn Pulley Jr. (Richmond, Va./St. Christopher's School) and Ty Showalter (Charlotte, N.C./Butler) to tie up the game at 5-5 with 17:21 on the clock. Randolph-Macon took its first lead of the game at 10-7 with a three ball by Showalter. Braylen Salters started to get hot for the Quakers and scored five straight points to swing the lead back to GC at 12-10 with 15:05 left in the half. Liam Joyce (Allentown, Pa./Allentown Central Catholic) led a quick 5-1 run for the Lemon and Black, scoring four points, putting RMC into the lead at 15-12 with 12:28 on the clock. Pulley Jr. nailed a triple, pushing Randolph-Macon out to a 25-19 lead with 9:22 left in the first half. Salters would soon after keep Guilford within one possession with a triple of his own, showing a 25-22 advantage for RMC. The Yellow Jackets shared the wealth of scoring with four players each having a basket to mount a 8-0 run, putting Randolph-Macon into a double-digit lead at 33-22 with 6:09 on the clock. Guilford would score back-to-back baskets, shrinking the RMC lead to 33-28. The Yellow Jackets scored the final 11 of 17 points with five from Pulley Jr. and held a 44-34 lead at halftime.
- In the second half, Rival Axselle converted a basket to bring the Quakers to within two possessions, trailing RMC, 50-44. Randolph-Macon formed a huge 22-2 run, led by Antinori with 10 points, shooting the Lemon and Black into their biggest lead of the game at 72-46 lead, with 12:52 left on the clock. Salters and Axselle guided Guilford back into striking distance with a 17-4, trimming the Randolph-Macon advantage to 76-63 with 7:41 left in the game. The Yellow Jackets used clutch defense in the final seven minutes of the game and took the air out of a comeback by the Quakers, winning the game 94-73.
Inside the Numbers:
- Randolph-Macon shot 56.3 percent from the floor, as Guilford knocked down 43.1 percent of its shots.
- The Yellow Jackets outrebounded the Quakers 41-to-29 in the entire game.
- Antinori recorded his first career double-double with a team high 16 points and a personal career high 10 rebounds. The junior also added two assists and a steal to his evening.
- Pulley Jr. ended the game with 12 points, two assists and a rebound for the Yellow Jackets.
- Joyce scored 10 points, grabbed five rebounds, dished out two assists, blocked a shot and had a steal.
- Jabril Robinson (Rockville, Md./South Kent Prep) stuffed the stat sheet with 10 points, six assists and five rebounds.
- Malcolm Hodges (Richmond, Va./Monacan), Oliver Jones (Middletown, Del./South Kent Prep) and Theartis Battle (Baltimore, Md./John Carroll) all scored eight points each in the game.
For the Record:
- Randolph-Macon has now advanced to its eighth straight conference semifinal game, dating back to the 2018-19 season.
- Pulley Jr. passed Paul Feeley '75 and moved into a tie with Carl Koenig '61 for 23rd on the Randolph-Macon career scoring list with 1,294 points.
- Robinson moved past Calvin Croskey '12 for fifth all-time in made three-pointers with 189.
Up Next
Randolph-Macon will head to Salem, Virginia to take on rival Hampden-Sydney in the ODAC Semifinals on Friday, February 27 at 5:00 p.m.
