For Immediate Release – 1/18/17 - #156
WildCats Fall to Former Mentor

LYNCHBURG, VA – The Randolph College men's basketball team took on Roanoke College and former head coach Clay Nunley on Wednesday night.  The WildCats fell to the Maroons and their former coach, 94-72 in Old Dominion Athletic Conference (ODAC) action.

The game was expected to be a defensive battle and the first minute reflected that, with neither team scoring.  However, both teams found their grooves afterwards.  Nick Goble and Ryan Fields combined to put the team up 5-0, before being answered on the other end by a three from Mark Seaman.  Reid Jacoby and Goble each scored soon after, bringing the lead to 9-3.

However, Seaman scored five-straight to bring the game within one.  Jacoby followed it with a quick three, which Seaman answered with another basket.  But Brian Smith (three-point shot) and Goble each scored, putting Randolph up 17-10 with 14:34 on the clock.

Roanoke then came back with 12-0 run over the next four minutes, but it was stopped by a three from Colton Lee.  Joey Miller copied Lee on the other end, but Lee hit another shot from deep to bring the team within two.  On the following possession, Lee had a deep, one-dribble pull-up to tie the score at 25.  Jeremiah Davis took a temporary lead, before the score was tied at 27.  Jacoby then completed a traditional three-point play to put the 'Cats up 30-27 with 8:02 left in the half.

Points were traded over the next minute, but the Maroons then went on their run.  The visitors scored all but three of the final points of the half, and took a 53-35 lead into the intermission.

Roanoke scored the first three points of the half, but the WildCats responded right away.  Goble finished a tough and-one, before Fields cut the deficit to 16 with a layup.  However, the visitors extended the margin with 10 of the next 13 (Smith hit a three).

Jacoby and Fields helped cut the deficit again, as they combined for four points.  Miller hit a layup, but Jacoby knocked down another three after the media timeout, bringing things to within 18.  Points were traded again over the next couple of minutes, with Fields scoring all four for the 'Cats.  Chase VanHorn then added two free throws with 9:03 on the clock, making the score 73-56.  But the visitors would go on another run, all but sealing the win.  The WildCats hit several late three-pointers.  Lee had two, Jacoby had one, and Brandon Schlick made one, but it would not be enough.

Jacoby led three 'Cats in double-figures with 19 points.  Fields added 14, with Lee posting the same amount.  Goble added nine points and seven rebounds.  Seaman led all scorers with 17 for Roanoke (7-8 overall, 2-5 ODAC).

This was the first time that current WildCats head coach Pete Hamilton '11 faced his former coach.  It was also the first time that Nunley walked the visitor sidelines in the RAD Center, after spending nine years with the men's basketball program.

Randolph (5-11, 2-5) will stay at home on Saturday for a matchup with Eastern Mennonite University (8-8, 2-5).  The 'Cats will play the second game of the basketball doubleheader, with tip-off set for 4:30 p.m.

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