BRIDGEWATER, Va.- Brian Smith (Dumfries, Va./C.D. Hylton) has the tendency to show up in big games. A year ago, Smith dropped 25 points as the WildCats upset Virginia Wesleyan 57-54 in the First Round of the ODAC Tournament. Smith duplicated the same effort on Monday night as he scored 27 points to lead Randolph to an 88-80 win over Bridgewater and advance the 'Cats to Salem, Va. to the Quarterfinals.

"So proud of the guys," said head coach Pete Hamilton afterwards. "There were so many instances in the second half it would have been easy to give in or get discouraged. Bridgewater was hitting some big time shots and their pressure was relentless but our guys trusted each other and trusted our staff. That's a Randolph program win. "

Smith shot 9-of-16 from the field and was 4-of-7 from beyond the three-point arc on the night. He pulled down 10 rebounds for his first double-double of the season. He also dished out four assists and came away with three steals.

"Brian Smith was absolutely phenomenal," noted Hamilton "Everyone in our locker room knows what he can be and he was all of it tonight. 27 points, 10 boards, 4 assists and 3 steals in a game that physical and draining. That's point guard and captain leadership."

CJ Loving (Madison Heights, Va./Amherst County) added 20 points off the bench for the 'Cats to go with six rebounds, two steals, and one block. It is the first time in over two years that the WildCats have had two 20-plus scorers in a game.

"This time of year it's always one or two players that help you survive that some people might not have thought of," stated Hamilton. "Tremaine Pugh and CJ Loving were our sleeper picks tonight. I'm impressed in the confidence and assertiveness those guys had in a big time tournament game. They both made plays that swung momentum for us." 

Bridgewater scored the game's first two baskets to go up 4-0 but Smith would give the WildCats a 5-4 lead with a jumper and three-point basket that was part of an 11-0 run for the 'Cats. BC would cut the Randolph lead to one point, 11-10, at 15:28. The WildCats would push their lead up to seven points, 17-10, with 13:56 remaining in the half.

The Eagles called a timeout and then embarked on a 19-4 run that saw them go ahead 29-21 with 6:48 to play. The WildCats would be undaunted as they went back up again, 35-33, with 2:54 remaining on the clock. Bridgewater would wrestle the lead back and go into the break ahead 38-36.

Randolph scored a pair of baskets to begin the second half to go back on top but the Eagles would tie the contest at 41-all at 18:15. A pair of Justin Dula free throws gave the WildCats a two-point lead but Bridgewater answered with a three from Josh Cammon to lead by one point, 44-43. A 7-3 WildCat run put Randolph up 50-47 with 15:16 remaining but BC would tie the game twice in less than three minutes.

It would be a tight contest for the next several minutes as both teams traded points and baskets. Randolph held to a 67-66 lead with 6:32 remaining to play but broke out an 11-0 run to jump ahead 78-66 with under four minutes remaining. Bridgewater cut to within seven points with 2:18 left, six points with 45 seconds remaining, and five points with 37 ticks left but the 'Cats made three of four free throw attempts in the final seconds to come away with the victory.

Sammy Hooper (Richmond, Va./Midlothian) added 15 points, six rebounds, four assists, two steals, and two blocks. Dula chipped in 10 points, five rebounds, one assist, one steal, and one block

Both teams hit 30 shots from the field. The WildCats were effective from the charity stripe as they were 21-of-30 (70%) to Bridgewater's 9-of-14 (33.3). Randolph had a huge advantage on the boards with 50 rebounds that represented a season-high compared to 33 for the Eagles. Randolph led in the paint 34-30. The WildCats' eight blocks were also a season-high.

The WildCats move on to face top seeded Randolph-Macon at the Salem Civic Center this Thursday. Tip off time is set for 1:00 p.m.

"There's not a better word for surviving this time of year than special," said Hamilton. "These extra days we get as a program and a brotherhood will be the ones we look back on. I'm so proud to be with our staff and players for another long tournament week."