LYNCHBURG, Va.- The Randolph men's basketball team hosted Guilford on Monday night at Giles Gymnasium. The Quakers, playing in their first game of the season, took the lead a little over four and a half minutes into the game and did not let up as they would go on to win 80-60.
Randolph led 4-0 less than two minutes into the contest on a layup and a pair of free throws by Danny Bickey (Beckley, W.V./Woodrow Wilson). The WildCats would go on to lead 7-2 but a 17-2 run by GC gave the visiting team a 19-9 advantage at the 13:17 mark.
The WildCats were able to chip into the Quaker lead and cut it down to five points, 27-22, with 7:15 remaining in the half but a 10-2 Guilford run upped the lead back into double digits, 37-24, with 5:19 showing on the game clock. Randolph closed to within singles digits of the lead, 37-29, at 4:16, but once again Guilford upped its advantage as it outscored the 'Cats 9-6 to go into the locker room ahead 46-35.
CJ Loving's (Madison Heights, Va./Amherst County) jumper to begin the second half got the WildCats to within nine points of the Quakers. That was the only time the deficit for Randolph was in single digits as Guilford would go on a 17-5 run to pull away and lead by 22 points with 7:37 remaining to play. The Quaker lead grew to as much as 25 points with 1:12 remaining in regulation.
Overall, Guilford shot 31-of-73 (42.5%) from the floor to Randolph's 13-of-27 (48.15%). The Quakers outrebounded the WildCats 52-31which led to a 20-9 advantage in second chance points. GC had a small lead in points in the paint 32-26. Both teams committed 13 turnovers but Guilford scored 17 to Randolph's 16 points off of them.
"After a nice quick start for us I thought we really got on our heels with their physicality," said head coach Pete Hamilton after the game. "Credit to Guilford as they came in with an emphasis to rebound the ball and did just that. Those guys are always going to be a team where rebounding is a central focus and I just think they beat us at their game tonight. Hard to find success and a rhythm with the physicality they put on us. I think we need to find a way to help our guys respond better in those situations."
Bickey led the way for Randolph with 19 points on 6-of-13 shooting. Jerry Goodman (Suffolk, Va./Portsmouth Christian School) added seven points and Loving six points. Justin Dula (Taylorsville, N.C./Alexander Central) pulled down a team-high eight rebounds to go with four points and three assists.
"Really enjoyed what Murphy Clingerman gave us off the bench tonight," stated Hamilton. "He is an effort guy and really was a bright spot for us in a tough game with his defensive presence and solid execution. Was great to see Noah Hooper get some quality time as well. He has been working his way into things and I think he will continue to grow and get more comfortable within our system."
Randolph travels to Roanoke tomorrow evening. Game time will be at 7:00 p.m.
"The good part about hoops is there is always a short waiting period between the next one," noted Hamilton. "We have a chance to play with more gratitude tomorrow night. It will be a heck of a challenge for us to respond after a disappointing one tonight."
