LYNCHBURG, Va. It was another chapter of the Randolph-Lynchburg men's basketball rivalry as the team squared off for the second time this season on Wednesday night at Giles Gymnasium. A three-point basket by Ty Clingerman (Front Royal, Va./Skyline HS) with time winding down would end up being the game winner for the WildCats as they edged out the Hornets 66-65.

The victory lifts Randolph's overall record to 9-14 and 3-11 in the ODAC. It is the first home win for the WildCats over Lynchburg since 2016.  The Hornets drop to 10-13 overall and 5-8 in the conference.

"How about Murph!" said head coach Pete Hamilton after the game. "There is no one in our team room that deserves that moment more than that guy. He's such a head-down, grind it out type of guy and I'm so proud that he felt the confidence in his work to step up and make the game winner against the city rival."

The WildCats held a 10-8 lead with 15:07 showing on the game clock in the first half. Lynchburg used a 12-0 run to go ahead 20-10 with 11:45 remaining. Randolph went on a huge 22-5 run to come back and take a seven-point lead, 32-25, with 3:25 remaining in the half. Lynchburg had a small 7-3 run to close out the period as Randolph led 35-32 at the break.

Randolph pushed its lead to seven points to start the second half courtesy of a pair of free throws by Amari Gorham (Yorktown, Va./Yorktown) and a dunk. Lynchburg brought the WildCat lead down to one point but the WildCats brought it back up to seven points, 45-38, with under 15 minutes left in the game. The Randolph lead grew to as much as nine points, 55-46, at the 11:03 mark.

A 16-3 run by the Hornets put the visitors up 62-58 with 2:41 remaining in regulation. After Cole Perry (Salisbury, N.C./Jesse Carson) converted a layup, a three by Lynchburg's Piercen Young put the Hornets up 65-60 with under two minutes to play. Danny Bickey (Beckley, W.V./Woodrow Wilson) answered for the 'Cats with a three to make it a one-possession contest with 1:04 left. With 37 seconds left, Gorham stole the ball from Young to give Randolph possession. Gorham was fouled and went to the line for a one-and-one. He would miss the first attempt with Perry coming down with the rebound. Bickey missed a three as time ticked down. After a missed shot by Perry, the ball found its way to Clingerman who sank the three-pointer from the left side of the court. After Lynchburg called a timeout, the Hornets brought the ball up the court and a last second three-point attempt by Jaylon Easton was off the mark as the WildCats walked off victorious.

I thought our grit was tested multiple times tonight and at the end of the day we got that last three pointer because of our refusal to stop," said Hamilton;  "I believe there were two offensive rebounds/tips involved before we got the three off - that is just heart and effort...has nothing to do with coaching - just players refusing to stop."

Overall, Randolph was 25-of-57 (43.9%) from the floor and 12-of-30 (40%) from behind the three-point arc. Lynchburg finished 24-of-65 (36.9%) overall and 11-of-29 (37.9) in three-point attempts. The Hornets had the rebounding edge 39-35. Randolph did lead in points off turnovers 19-16, bench points 33-25, and points in the paint 24-20.

"Love to see the balance in our box score," noted Hamilton. "I think we got to the balance through great attacking drives across the board and some great timely backcuts on penetration.  Another game with a good assist count and a positive assist to turnover ratio is a great step from our guys as well."

Bickey finished with 17 points on 6-of-14 shooting. Clingerman scored eight points and came away with three rebounds and two assists. Moustapha Diop (Fuquay Varina, N.C./Apex Friendship) also scored eight points. Perry's stat line was eight points, seven rebounds, and five assists.

"Amari Gorham and Moustapha Diop did a phenomenal job defensively to hold Lynchburg's leading scorer scoreless," noted Hamilton.  "That was such a huge matchup for us heading into the game and I think those two guys defensive presence was huge for us. Bickey stayed the course and our guys did a great job getting him looks and delivering passes in that slight moment when he found an opening. He's such a tough cover and he just needs a little space - his poise to cash in when he got space makes him the player he is."

Randolph travels to #3 Hampen-Sydney on Saturday. Game time will be at 7:00 p.m. The WildCats hope to avenge a January 17 loss to the Tigers at home 77-63.