LYNCHBURG, Va.- Almost one week after playing each other, the Randolph and Bridgewater men's basketball teams met again, this time at Giles Gymnasium, on Wednesday evening. The WildCats avenged their OT loss to the Eagles last Thursday with a 91-81 win. Randolph improves its record to 1-2. BC drops to 2-3.
"Really proud of all 16 guys tonight," said head coach Pete Hamilton afterwards. "We love playing at our place with our fans – since that's not an option, I thought our bench was impressive at bringing our own atmosphere. This season has already been quite a challenge and our guys ability to show up, work, stay disciplined off the court, and improve in the short time we've been together is refreshing as a coach."
Bridgewater led 7-2 in the opening minutes of the first period. The WildCats used a 14-5 run to go ahead 16-12 with under 12 minutes left. The Eagles sank three consecutive three-point baskets, with two coming from Alec Topper, to wrestle back the lead and go up 24-19 with under 10 minutes to go until halftime. The 'Cats were able to tie on back-to-back layups from Danny Bickey (Beckley, W.V./Woodrow Wilson).
BC took its biggest lead of the half, 37-31, with 5:47 showing on the clock. A 7-0 run by Randolph put the home team up 38-37 at the 4:44 mark. The score changed hands seven times in the last 4:19 with Evan Makle (Dumfries, Va./Christ Chapel Academy) sinking a pair of free throws with 1:35 left to put Randolph on top 49-48 at the break.
The second half continued to play out as the first as neither team could establish a significant run. There were four ties and 12 lead changes in the 12:06 of game time. A three by Bickey with a little under eight minutes remaining staked the WildCats to a 72-70 lead and help key a big run that gave the 'Cats their biggest lead of the night, 82-73, with 2:12 to play in the game. The Eagles closed to within five points with 1:27 remaining but Randolph used a 9-4 run to close out the game and come out with the victory.
The WildCats shot 47.1% from the floor and were good on 30% of its three-point attempts. Bridgewater finished with a 46.4% from the floor and while make 50% of its threes in the first half, cooled down in the second as they shot 16.7%.
Randolph had the advantage in points off turnovers (23-18), second chance points (17-15), bench points (25-11), and points in the paint (50-40). The WildCats controlled the glass with a 50-32 lead.
Four Randolph starters got into double figures. Bickey dropped a career-high 22 points on 8-of-14 shooting. CJ Loving (Madison Heights, Va./Amherst County) added 14 points and eight rebounds. Justin Dula (Taylorsville, N.C./Alexander Central) had his third straight double-double performance with 12 points and 11 boards. He also dished out three assists, blocked two shots, and came up with two steals. AJ Marshall (Lake Mary, Fla./Lake Mary Prep) chipped in 11 points and seven rebounds. Avery Payne (Charlotte, N.C./East Mecklenburg) scored eight points on 4-of-4 shooting in 15 minutes off the bench.
"Danny Bickey lifted us in some key spots in the 2nd half," noted Hamilton. "The game was up and down and his three with eight minutes to go started a 12-2 run for us to put the game away. His motor to relocate, back cut, chase handoff, and sprint on the offensive end opens up so much for everyone. Two bench guys I thought really lifted us during that second half were Avery Payne and Jerry Goodman. Avery went 4-4 from the field and helped us take advantage of their switches at times with his post presence. Jerry responded to some tough love coaching at halftime and scored 7 points and had 4 assists to help us take and extend the lead for good to close this one out. Credit to him for his toughness to respond and make a difference."
Next up for the WildCats are the defending conference champion, and current #1 team in the latest D3hoops.com poll, Randolph-Macon on Friday night. Game time from Ashland will be at 7:00 p.m.
"It felt great to get this one after our tough loss to Bridgewater in OT last week," said Hamilton. "Excited to keep taking the challenges of this season head on."
