For Immediate Release – 2/18/17 - #198
'Cats Fall in Regular Season Finale

VIRGINIA BEACH, VA – The Randolph College men's basketball team traveled to Virginia Wesleyan College for its regular season finale on Saturday.  The WildCats dropped the Old Dominion Athletic Conference (ODAC) contest 83-51.

The 'Cats came out of the gates as the stronger team.  Ryan Fields opened the scoring with a layup off of a pass from Brian Smith.  Following a three on the other end, Reid Jacoby and Fields hit back to back jumpers to push the lead to 6-3.  It was made possible by a block from Nick Goble.

However, the Marlins used a 11-0 run to establish an eight-point lead with 13:38 on the clock.  Andre Banks hit two shots from behind the arc during the spree.  Andy Toe ended it with a tough finish inside off of a pass from Jacoby, but Keijon Honore answered with a three.

Toe tallied the next four points, two coming from free throws and two on a layup, which brought the WildCats to within five.  However, VWC used another large run, pushing the margin to 29-12 with eight minutes remaining in the half.

Fields responded to end the run and hit a layup.  Banks came back and hit an additional three, but Toe was there on the other end with another basket.  The teams then traded points, with Keion Robinson and Fields scoring for Randolph, but Virginia Wesleyan tallied the final seven to go into the half up 44-20.

The Marlins continued their run at the beginning of the second, but Toe stopped it with a layup.  It was off of a pass from Jacoby, and that assist moved Jacoby into second in the all-time records at Randolph.

Fields converted a traditional three-point play during the second-half burst by the Marlins.  However, shortly after it ended, the WildCats answered with a run of their own.  Goble started it with a layup, with Toe also scoring inside.  Robinson hit a free throw, before Jacoby knocked down a field goal.  Colton Lee kept it going by connecting from beyond the arc.  Toe made it a 12-0 run, finishing another pass from Jacoby.

The teams then traded baskets the rest of the way.  Jeremiah Davis added two, Drew Hayden and Robinson each added one, while Hayden Goins also tallied, but it was not enough for the WildCats.

Toe led the 'Cats with 15 points, while also grabbing six rebounds.  Fields scored 11 and pulled down six as well, with Goble and Smith doing the same.  Jacoby assisted on five baskets, which puts him at 267 for his career and 143 for the season.  The 143 is a season record and it moves him closer to the top spot.  Banks finished with 12 points for the Marlins (17-8 overall, 10-6 ODAC).

Randolph (7-18, 4-12) finished the regular season with Saturday's game.  The WildCats will play on Monday night in the first round of the ODAC tournament.  The opponent and location will be determined later on Saturday and released by the conference office.

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