For Immediate Release – 2/1/17 - #170
WildCats Fall in Close Battle with Quakers

GREENSBORO, NC – The Randolph College men's basketball team traveled to Guilford College on Wednesday night.  The WildCats played the Quakers tight, but fell in the Old Dominion Athletic Conference (ODAC) tilt 69-61.

In what is always a tough, defensive game between these two teams, the first two minutes featured no points on either side.  The Quakers were the first to score, but Ryan Fields made back-to-back shots to take an early lead.  The next points came quick, as Dominique Henderson made a three, before it was answered by Fields once again.

Henderson responded with two-straight baskets, taking a 9-6 lead, but that too would not last.  Andy Toe finished a pass from Reid Jacoby down low, which Jacoby followed with a three-pointer.  The score was tied soon after, but Toe and Jacoby hooked up again to notch the score at 13-11.  However, GC went on a 12-2 run over the next four minutes, extending the margin to eight, with Jacoby hitting the lone Randolph shot. 

The 'Cats would not go away, though.  Jacoby hit another jumper, and Toe answered a three with a traditional three-point play.  While the hosts scored seven of nine, the WildCats ended the half on an 8-2 burst, going into the half down 35-30.  Jacoby had five, while Brian Smith added a three-point field goal of his own.

Fields came out strong in the second, going bucket for bucket with the Quakers for two minutes.  Then he assisted on the first career-three point make (and attempt) for Toe, who cut the deficit to two (39-37).  Henderson hit a pair from the line on the ensuing possession, but Jacoby came back with a run, giving Randolph its first lead in 15 minutes.

Jacoby started it with an and-one, before hitting a fast break jumper after picking Henderson.  He then grabbed a rebound off of a Henderson miss and hit another fast break layup.  Henderson brought the hosts disadvantage to one, but Fields knocked down a jump shot.

The game would then turn into back and forth action.  GC tied it at 46, but Chase VanHorn hit a three.  Two free throws came on the Quakers side, before Fields copied it.  After four from the hosts put Guilford up one, Toe and Fields each tallied two points to give the WildCats a 55-52 lead.

Alston Thompson tipped-in a shot soon after, which Henderson followed with a make from behind the arc, retaking the home lead.  Jeremiah Davis tied it at 57 with a pair of free throws, but the Quakers hit two as well.  Nick Goble tied the game at 59 with three minutes left, however, the hosts scored seven-straight.  Fields hit a late jumper, but it would not be enough for the WildCats.

Fields posted 20 points, while Jacoby and Toe finished with 19 and 12 respectively.  Fields recorded his first-career double-double, grabbing 10 rebounds in the game.  Henderson led Guilford (17-3 overall, 10-1 ODAC) with 20 points.

Randolph (7-13, 4-7) returns home for its next game.  The WildCats will continue their ODAC stretch, taking on Randolph-Macon College (14-6, 10-1) in the RAD Center on Saturday, with tip-off set for 2 p.m.

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