SALEM, Va. -- In a game with seven ties and nine lead changes, a late surge by the nation's top-ranked team pushed Randolph-Macon past eighth-seed Randolph, 72-63, in the ODAC quarterfinals.

For the second time in less than two weeks, the WildCats put a huge scare in the d3hoops.com national poll's No. 1 team, but Randolph-Macon used a 10-0 run in the final minutes to close out a victory.

Early on, two guards dueled, as junior Corey Brown hit a pair of triples, while his opposite number, Marcus Badger, converted three field goals to level the score at 6-6.

The teams continued to battle with five ties and five lead changes over the first 10:38 of the contest.

Randolph finished the first half shooting 59.1%, including 4-of-7 from three before a desperation buzzer-beater fell short.

Randolph-Macon converted on 52.2% of its shots, but turnovers were the real story of the frame.

The two teams, who rank second and third in fewest turnovers per game in the league, combined to force 20 in the period.

"We did a good job early stopping them from getting inside," junior Gordon Rogo said. "In the first half we didn't play our best basketball and turned it over too much but we were still in it."

Out of the break, Randolph only committed one turnover in the first 14:30 of the second half, as Zach Desgain opened up the scoring to start the period with a high-arcing floater from 10 feet, tying the game.

After a Randolph-Macon free throw, Rogo drove to the basket to put Randolph back ahead.

The teams continued their hot shooting, exchanging threes as first-year Reid Jacoby nailed a triple to put Randolph back on top in response to one from R-MC's Chris Hamilton.

Consecutive baskets with fouls helped Randolph-Macon respond with a 9-2 run to get back ahead, still early in the second half.

The WildCats locked down defensively after that, with junior Lucas Smith forcing a steal and junior Brown drawing a charge to set up Randolph's offense.

Junior Evan Horn hit two free throws and Jacoby drove to the basket to cut the lead to just two.

After a 4-0 R-MC run, Desgain, who was chosen Wednesday as an All-ODAC pick, took over, putting back an offensive rebound and then hitting another layup to go on a personal 4-0 run.

In response to another Yellow Jacket layup, Desgain converted a conventional three-point play to make the deficit just 51-50 halfway through the period.

Junior Seth Wimbish had the response to two more Randolph-Macon free throws, but the Yellow Jackets scored the next four once again.

Head coach Clay Nunley's squad once again looked to its All-ODAC guard to break up the rally.

Randolph went on a 6-1 run with four of those points coming from Desgain and two from Brown, finally tying the score back up with just under five to go.

Randolph-Macon's first field goal in 5:30 came on a three-point play with 4:22 showing on the scoreboard and kick-started a 10-0 spurt that put the WildCats away.

"It's exciting to play a team like this, especially in Salem," Desgain said. "Sometimes you guard everything right and the other team just makes shots. All credit to Randolph-Macon. They're a talented team."

Randolph-Macon converted on 24 of their 31 free throw attempts, while Randolph was perfect on the day, but only took seven attempts.

Desgain led the WildCats with 21 points on 8-of-12 shooting. He finishes as the only player in the ODAC to average at least 14.0 points, 6.0 rebounds and 3.5 assists per contest since 2004.

Rogo was Randolph's other double figure scorer, posting 10 points.

Wimbish added eight points and matched the game high with seven rebounds.

Marcus Badger and Joe Hassell had 26 points and 20 points, respectively, for R-MC.

"I thought we showed a lot of character." head coach Clay Nunley said. "That's who we have been and that's who we are."

The loss ends Randolph's season after a fourth trip to Salem in five years, while the Yellow Jackets advance to play the winner of No. 4 Eastern Mennonite and No. 5 Lynchburg.