SALEM, VA – The Randolph College men's basketball team could not overcome the hot shooting from top-seeded Virginia Wesleyan College Saturday evening as the WildCats run through the Old Dominion Athletic Conference (ODAC) Tournament came to an end with a 78-68 loss to the Marlins in action from the Salem Civic Center.

                The WildCats now sit with a 21-6 overall mark, which is the best in program history, and will await word to see if the NCAA Tournament selection committee will award Randolph with an at-large to the 2013 NCAA Tournament. Randolph currently is No. 8 in the regional rankings. If the WildCats season is over, it will be one that is remembered for so many firsts in program history, including earning their first-ever regional ranking as well as national ranking in the D3hoops.com Top 25 poll.

                The story of Saturday's game was the blistering clip at which the Marlins (21-6) shot the basketball, as VWC knocked down eight threes and made 20 of its 40 field goals in the opening stanza, opening up a 40-27 lead at halftime. Randolph shot 51 percent in the first half, led by senior Chris Battaglia (Smithfield, VA/Portsmouth) and his seven-for-seven shooting.

                The WildCats trimmed the lead to as close as two with 15:30 left on a three-ball from junior Mike Ehilegbu (Raleigh, NC/Ravenscroft), but Virginia Wesleyan would go on a 13-3 run over the next four minutes to push its advantage to 12. The WildCats got the lead down under double figures once more at 59-50 with 9:26 remaining on a three from Battaglia, but could get no closer.

                The loss may have marked the final game in the career of Randolph star guard Colton Hunt (Whittier, NC/Smoky Mountain), who posted a double-double of 22 points and 11 rebounds Saturday. Hunt ranks first in program history with 1,864 career points, 453 free throws made, assists (262), and steals. Hunt is third all-time in the ODAC in steals, and is also in the top 10 in the league in free throws made.

                His scoring average of 24.6 points is the most of any ODAC player since Ben Strong of Guilford College averaged 25.8 per game in 2007-08. Battaglia was very efficient Saturday, making eight-of-nine from the floor while pulling in seven boards. The senior center has been great at the end of the year, posting double-figures in 11 of his last 12 games.

                Ehilegbu posted 17 points and six rebounds as well for the WildCats, as he averaged 18 points per game in the Tournament. The WildCats shot 43.6 percent (24-55) from the floor, but connected on just four-of-21 (19.0 percent) from downtown. The WildCats out-boarded Virginia Wesleyan 33-28, and turned the ball over nine times.

                Virginia Wesleyan had a balanced scoring attack, as four players posted double figures on the evening. Chris Teasley registered his second consecutive game with 24 points, going eight-of-14 from the floor and three-of-four from deep for the Marlins.

                Chris Astorga had 16 points and five assists, while senior point guard had 15 points. Trent Batson also had 11 points for VWC, as the Marlins finished 11-of-24 (45.8 percent) from deep, making 11-of-12 from the line. Virginia Wesleyan took care of the ball, committing a season-low five turnovers.

                Despite the loss, Randolph made its third consecutive appearance in the ODAC semifinals, a feat that only Virginia Wesleyan and Randolph-Macon College, the two teams that will meet in the ODAC Finals Sunday, can say over the same span. The selection show for Division III men's basketball is Monday afternoon at 1 p.m., and will be broadcast on NCAA.com.

                Again, if Saturday was the WildCats last game of the season, it will say goodbye to three huge contributors in seniors Hunt, Battaglia and Cameron Colquitt (Mechanicsville, VA/Atlee). The three have helped Randolph to a 64-46 (.582) record over the last four seasons, two ODAC Finals appearances, the first-ever win over a ranked opponent, an undefeated non-conference slate this year and regional and national rankings.

--RANDOLPH--