LYNCHBURG, Va.- The Randolph men's basketball team didn't have to go far for their game on Wednesday night as they hopped across town to the University of Lynchburg. A strong effort in the first half got away from the WildCats as they fell to their cross-city rival 73-55.

The 'Cats fall to 7-14 overall and 3-9 in the Old Dominion Athletic Conference. The Hornets improve to 13-8 and 8-4 in the conference.

The score was tight in the first half as neither team could go on a big run. Lynchburg led 28-25 with 1:50 left to halftime but a layup by Avery Payne (Charlotte, N.C./East Mecklenburg) followed by a jumper by Brian Smith (Dumfries, Va./C.D. Hylton) gave Randolph a 29-28 lead at the break.

The Hornets started out hot to begin the second half as they went on an 11-0 run to go up 39-29 at 16:03. The WildCats would respond with a run of their own as they sliced their deficit to five points, 43-38, at 12:57. A 17-2 run by Lynchburg, however, doomed Randolph as the home team went up 60-40 with 8:19 left in regulation. Lynchburg went ahead by as much as 24 points, 71-47, with 3:46 remaining before the 'Cats closed the gap.

The Hornets shot close to 60% (19-of-32) in the second half to pull away from the WildCats. Lynchburg was 6-of-12 from behind the three-point arc.

Randolph was able to force 17 Lynchburg turnovers that it was able to turn into 14 points. The 'Cats did have a 32-26 advantage in points in the paint.

Smith was one of three Randolph starters to reach double figures as he scored 14 points. CJ Loving (Madison Heights, Va./Amherst County) added 13 points while AJ Marshall (Lake Mary, Fla./Lake Mary Prep) chipped in 10 points, seven rebounds, three assists, and two steals. Justin Dula (Taylorsville, N.C./Alexander Central) finished with eight points, six rebounds, three assists, two blocks, and one steal.

The WildCats travel to Virginia Beach to face the #15 Marlins this Saturday. Game time is at 2:00 p.m.