LYNCHBURG, Va. -- On Faculty/Staff Appreciation Night, Randolph and Lynchburg treated the capacity crowd to a thriller at the RAD Center.

To the disappointment of the majority of the filled arena, the home team fell, 64-55, after Lynchburg iced the game with free throws in the final seconds.

The lead changed hands four times in the opening 2:30, as the teams exchanged buckets, with juniors Zach Desgain and Gordon Rogo each hit from the field to put Randolph up early.

With Lynchburg ahead, 15-11, first-year Reid Jacoby and junior Lucas Smith helped Randolph equalize with 11:30 left in the frame.

A strong run over the next nine minutes put the visitors up double digits, however, going into halftime up 36-22.

At halftime, 15 members of the faculty and staff were recognized by the players, as each WildCat invited one member of the faculty or staff to the contest as a show of his appreciation.

To watch the ceremony, click here.

Out of the break, Lynchburg opened up a lead as large as 20 before Randolph hit its stride.

An 8-0 Randolph run followed, including five straight from Desgain, making the lead a dozen.

After two straight Lynchburg baskets, Randolph turned it on again.

After a Desgain free throw, Jacoby threw an alley-oop to classmate Ryan Fields who brought the crowd to its feet with a tip-in off the feed, which can be seen by clicking here.

Momentum grew, as a pair of Desgain layups sandwiched a jumper by junior Seth Wimbish, suddenly putting Randolph within seven.

Lynchburg's first basket in 5:41 broke up the 9-0 spurt, as LC inched the lead back up to 12 with 3:21 to go.

Rogo then hit a layup before a three by junior Jason Eddie and a jumper by junior Corey Brown brought Randolph within five with 1:01 to go.

Five free throws from the guests in the final 58 seconds put Randolph away, however, as the WildCats couldn't get over the final hurdle.

Randolph received 16 points from Desgain and 13 from Rogo, while three players had at least five rebounds for head coach Clay Nunley's squad.

Each team had the same number of misses from the field and from three, while the WildCats committed three fewer turnovers than their opponents. The margin of victory was determined by the three additional made triples by Lynchburg in the contest.

The WildCats are next in action on Saturday, with the nation's No. 4 ranked team, Randolph-Macon, coming to town. Tip time is 2 p.m.