SALEM, Va. - Randolph-Macon Men's Basketball made a furious comeback, coming out of halftime, but a late bucket by Roanoke sees the Yellow Jackets fall short in the conference title game, 59-58.
The Basics:
Score: #25 Roanoke 59, #1 Randolph-Macon 58
Venue: Salem, Va. // Salem Civic Center
Records: Randolph-Macon (25-3, 14-2 ODAC), Roanoke (22-6, 12-4 ODAC)
How it Happened:
- The start the game was as even as it could have been. Delani Hammonds (Charlotte, N.C./Ardrey Kell) highlighted the start with a three ball, Roanoke received a Caleb Franze three-pointer and the game would be tied at 7-7 with 15:51 on the clock. The Maroons went on a quick 6-1 run to take a 13-8 lead, but a big end of shot-clock lay-up by Ty Showalter (Charlotte, N.C./Butler) got the Yellow Jackets back within a possession at 13-10 with 11:46 on the clock. The Maroons took a 15-10 lead, but Keishawn Pulley Jr. (Richmond, Va./St. Christopher's School) hit a much needed three ball to keep RMC within two points. Marcus Morgan made a lay-up and with 7:57 left in the half, the Maroons held the lead at 17-13. Franze made a three-pointer to give Roanoke its biggest lead of the game, thus far, leading 20-13. Randolph-Macon struggled on the offensive end of the floor, the Maroons took advantage and would lead 23-13 with 3:47 left in the first half. Liam Joyce (Allentown, Pa./Allentown Central Catholic) broke the drought of field goals with a lay-up with seconds left in the half. Roanoke would hold a 28-16 lead heading into the halftime break.
- In the second half, Randolph-Macon forced back-to-back turnovers and Pulley Jr. nailed a three-pointer to cut the deficit to 28-19. Jabril Robinson (Rockville, Md./South Kent Prep) joined the show with a three ball for six straight points for RMC cut the deficit to 28-22 with 17:53 on the clock. Robinson made it a 9-3 run for the Lemon and Black with yet another three-pointer and the deficit sits at 31-25 with 15:55 on the clock. Showalter made it four made three-pointers for RMC, he also added a lay-up and at the second media timeout the deficit is 34-30. Roanoke scored a few tough buckets and held a seven point lead, but Robinson found Pulley Jr. that buried his third three ball of the half and RMC pulled within four at 38-34. Robinson cut the lead to two points, Pulley Jr. stayed scorching hot from longe range and a three-pointer gave Randolph-Macon the lead 39-38 with just over ten minutes on the clock. Showalter drove to the bucket and converted the lay-up plus foul shot and the Lemon and Black held a 43-40 lead with 8:48 on the clock. The under eight media timeout saw Randolph-Macon hold a slim 43-42 lead. Robinson made a huge triple to give the Yellow Jackets a 50-44 lead, but the Maroons made free throws soon after and with 4:09 left in regulation, RMC holds a 50-44 lead. The final media timeout of regulation had an RMC lead 54-48. Joyce hit a huge lay-up coming out of a timeout and Franze answered on the Roanoke end and with 1:25 on the clock, RMC holds a 56-52 lead. The Maroons would not go away with under a minute to play, scoring three straight points, with :34 seconds in the game the Yellow Jackets lead 58-55. Roanoke received a huge bucket by Jackson Bell with :8 seconds left in the game to give the lead back to RC at 59-58. Randolph-Macon got a shot up right before the buzzer, but the second half comeback falls shot, as the Maroons win the conference title 59-58.
Inside the Numbers:
- Randolph-Macon shot 46.8 percent from the floor, as Roanoke knocked down 41.2 percent of its shots.
- The Maroons outrebounded the Yellow Jackets 37-to-27 in the entire game.
- Pulley Jr. nailed four second half three-pointer, guilding him to lead all scorers with 15 points. The senior also added two steals and a rebound.
- Robinson matched his senior teammate with 15 points in the game. The senior was 3-of-5 from long range to go with five rebounds and four assists.
- Showalter ended the game with 12 points and six rebounds for the Lemon and Black.
- Joyce finished with eight points, three boards, two steals, a block and an assist.
- Hammonds filled up the scoresheet with six assists and four rebounds to go with his five points.
For the Record:
- Pulley Jr. moved to 21st on the all-time scoring list, passing Bob Minutella '67 and Justin Short '09 with 1,317 points.
- Pulley Jr. and Robinson were named to the all-tournament team.
Up Next
Randolph-Macon will await its selection in the 2026 NCAA DIII Basketball Tournment on Monday, March 2.
