LYNCHBURG, Va.- The Randolph men's basketball team opened its season at home on Tuesday evening as they took on North Carolina Wesleyan. The Battling Bishops defeated the WildCats 86-65.

N.C. Wesleyan started the game scoring the first five points. Randolph countered with a four-point run to close to 5-4. The Battling Bishops used a big run to go ahead 19-6 with 12:17 showing on the game clock. The WildCats closed to within nine points, 21-12, with just over 10 minutes remaining in the period. The Battling Bishops extended their lead as they went up 44-27 at halftime. N.C Wesleyan led comfortably in the second half despite only outscoring the WildCats 42-38 in the period.

N.C. Wesleyan was 35-of-66 from the floor (53%) while Randolph was 26-of-63 (41.3%). The WildCats did perform well from the free throw line as they converted 8-of-10 (80%).

Danny Bickey (Beckley, W.V./Woodrow Wilson) led the 'Cats with 25 points on 11-of-19 shooting. Jerry Goodman (Suffolk, Va./Portsmouth Christian School) added 12 points. Ryan Davis (Erlanger, Ky./Lloyd Memorial) chipped in 11 points and was 3-for-4 behind the three-point arc in his first collegiate game.

Randolph is back at Giles Gymnasium when they host Greensboro on Saturday. Game time will be at 3:00 p.m.