LYNCHBURG, Va. -- Randolph worked hard to fight back and tie today's game with 8.6 seconds left, but with 2.1 on the clock, Averett hit the game's winner in a 69-66 contest.

Randolph trailed by seven with 54.9 seconds left before junior Zach Desgain hit a three, scoring Randolph's next nine points by himself over the next 35 seconds to pull Randolph within one.

Fouling Averett down the stretch and stellar shooting got the WildCats back in the game, as the team got the ball back with 17 seconds remaining down by just three.

Desgain gave up the ball to classmate Corey Brown, who hit a triple to level the game with 8.6 seconds left.

The Cougars responded in transition with a three of their own with 2.1 seconds left to escape the RAD Center with a thrilling victory.

Averett never trailed in today's contest, growing a lead as large as 12 in the first half.

After the WildCats chipped away before intermission, junior Seth Wimbish cut the lead to seven with a jumper just as time expired in the first half.

The teams exchanged small runs early in the second half with the WildCats holding Averett scoreless for 3:01 just past halfway through the second half to clip into the lead.

After Desgain hit two free throws with 1:19 left, the WildCats were down by six and, with time not on their side, used fouls to send Averett to the line with the clock stopped.

After the Cougars split a pair of free throws, Desgain hit a three off a pass from Brown with 54.9 seconds left to make the deficit four.

Another split from Averett allowed Randolph to cut into the lead more when Desgain nailed both from the line with 42 seconds left.

A third straight split from the visitors was responded to quickly by a cutting layup from Desgain, getting the WildCats within two with 29.6 to go.

Once again, the WildCats got what they wanted after only one of two free throws fell on the opposite end and another Desgain layup made the edge just one with 19 seconds to go.

Needing to foul once again, Randolph put Bradley Robinson on the line, but the guard hit both with just over 17 seconds left, once again making the lead three.

Desgain, who had nine points in the 35 seconds leading up to the final possession and 11 in the final 59 seconds, gave up the ball with a pass to Brown on the left wing right in front of the Randolph bench.

Brown was true, tying the game for the first time all day with just 8.6 seconds on the clock.

That left too much time for Averett, however, as the guests chose to forgo calling their final timeout to set up a play and instead went in transition.

Trevor West, the team's leading scorer with 17, cut to the basket and dropped the ball off to Cody Stephens in a mirrored position from where Brown hit his three.

Stephens also found the bottom of the basket, this time with 2.1 seconds left, and Averett held on for the victory after a buzzer-beater from half court went awry.

Desgain led all scorers with 20 points and was the top Randolph rebounder with six.

Brown closed the game with 16 points and Wimbish finished with 13.

The WildCats close the calendar year at Mary Washington on Dec. 20.