For Immediate Release – 12/6/16 - #136
Late Run by MU downs WildCats

LYNCHBURG, VA – Methodist University came from behind in the final minutes of the game, defeating the Randolph College men's basketball team 63-58 in nonconference action on Tuesday night.  The close affair featured seven ties and six lead changes over the 40 minutes of play.

The Monarchs started with the game with an early lead, thanks to two layups from Jackson Whitley.  However, after the teams traded threes (Brian Smith connected for the WildCats), Reid Jacoby and Ryan Fields went back to back to make an early tie at seven.

Both sides once again began to trade baskets, with the WildCats earning two three-point leads.  Chase VanHorn and Colton Lee both made shots from behind the arc during that spree.  But MU answered, and took its own narrow advantage, before Fields tied it up with a traditional three-point play at 7:15.

Methodist scored soon after, but Andy Toe tallied four-straight and Lee added a jumper to make the score 24-20 in favor of the hosts.  However, the Monarchs used a late burst to take a 27-24 advantage into the half.

The 'Cats exploded out of the intermission, as Smith connected twice from downtown, with Toe finding him both times.  It put Randolph up one as the Monarchs scored in between, but the advantage would continue to grow.  Toe finished inside off a pass from Fields, and then Fields found Smith once again behind the arc.  Smith made it 35-29, just three minutes in.

MU called a timeout and made a layup after the quick break.  But the WildCats came right back.  Jacoby made a tough layup, before Fields followed suit twice, putting the 'Cats up 41-31.

The Monarchs made another push, scoring six of seven, before Lee started another burst with a three.  That basket combined with Jacoby (four points) and Toe (two) for a 9-2 run, putting Randolph up 51-39 with 9:50 left.

However, at this point, the visitors started their final comeback.  Methodist scored 11 of 13 to cut the difference to three with five and a half left to play.  VanHorn ended it with an and-one, but the Monarchs answered with six-straight to tie the score at 56.  Fields took it back with three minutes on the clock, but MU would score five in a row.

Randolph's defense allowed them to get two more opportunities in the final seconds of the game, but both were just off.  Following a foul and two successful free throws, the visitors hung on for the 63-58 win.

Fields led the 'Cats with 13 points and six rebounds.  Smith added a career-high of 12 points.  Along with the game being tight, it was also very clean as there were only 19 turnovers and 23 total fouls over the whole game.  Rae Hall led the Monarchs (3-5 overall) with a game-high 18 points.

Randolph (2-5, 0-1) returns to the road this weekend, along with Old Dominion Athletic Conference (ODAC) play.  The WildCats will play Shenandoah University (4-3, 1-0) on Saturday at 2 p.m.

###