For Immediate Release – 1/4/16 - #148
'Cats Drop Close Affair with H-SC

LYNCHBURG, VA – The Randolph College men's basketball team had the lead with less than three minutes on Wednesday night, but fell 69-63 to Hampden-Sydney College, in an Old Dominion Athletic Conference (ODAC) contest.

The 'Cats started out on fire.  After Ryan Fields made a jumper early in the game, him and two teammates (Brian Smith and Reid Jacoby) each knocked down a three-point shot, giving the WildCats an 11-0 lead at 17:08.  The run continued after two H-SC free throws.  Andy Toe hit a nice layup, which was followed by a three from Chase VanHorn.

Hampden-Sydney then started an exchange of points, as Nick Goble and then Jeremiah Davis answered opposing baskets.  Goble then caught passes from Jacoby and Smith to score on two consecutive times down the floor.  It put the lead at 24-6.

The Tigers responded at this point, going on a 13-3 burst, which was only interrupted by a Fields jumper and a free throw from Jacoby.  However, the two hit back-to-back shots to extend the advantage back to 14.

H-SC cut it to nine (33-24) with 1:34 on the clock.  But Fields hit a free throw and James Canady nailed a shot from behind the arc as the buzzer wound down to zero.  It gave the WildCats a 37-24 lead.

Hampden-Sydney tallied the first six of the second half, before Jacoby put the lead back at 10 with a three.  After a visitor free throw, Goble and Fields sandwiched a Josh Katowitz layup to make the score 44-33 with 16:52 left.  Fields added to the margin with a make from the line, which was followed by a trade of baskets, including a big jumper from Fields.

H-SC responded with another run, bringing the score to 47-43.  Fields answered on the other end, once again hitting a jump shot with a hand in his face.  But the Tigers tallied the next 11 points to take a five-point lead.  Toe hit a free throw, before Justin Reid made it a six-point deficit for the hosts.

The 'Cats would not go away, as Fields caught two Jacoby passes and scored both to bring the team within two.  After two points were scored on the next three trips, Jacoby hit a shot from behind the arc to bring the margin to only one.  Katowitz hit a layup afterwards, but Fields answered again to make sure the difference stayed at one point.

Fields gave the WildCats the lead back at the 2:34 mark.  He was fouled by Reid and sank both of his free throws.  But the team would not be able to find any more points, as Hampden-Sydney closed out the game with seven-straight.

Fields finished with a game-high of 27 points.  Jacoby added 12 points and seven assists in the game.  Smith led the 'Cats with seven rebounds.  Logan Samuels paced the Tigers (6-6 overall, 2-1 ODAC) with 13 points.

Randolph (4-8, 1-2) will head on the road after completing the two-game home stand.  The WildCats travel to Emory & Henry College (8-4, 2-1) for a 4:30 p.m. tip-off on Saturday.

###