VIRGINIA BEACH, VA.- The Randolph men's basketball team traveled to #15 Virginia Wesleyan on Saturday afternoon for an ODAC matchup. The WildCats closed to within a single possession late in the second half but the Marlins pulled away in the end as they won 71-62.

Randolph had an early 3-2 lead just over a minute into the first half after a three by Chase Depriest (Clifton Forge, Va./Alleghany HS). Virginia Wesleyan would go on to take a 10-6 lead but a small Randolph run put the 'Cats ahead 11-10 with 14:10 showing on the game clock. The Marlins briefly took the lead back but Randolph answered with a 5-0 run to go up 16-12 with 12 minutes remaining. The WildCat lead held until the 8:44 mark when the Marlins led 19-18. The game was deadlocked at 21-21 until a three-point basket by Khai Seargeant put the home team ahead 24-21 with 7:01 on the clock. With the score at 27-25 in Virginia Wesleyan's favor, a three-point basket by Khalil Caple (Suffolk, Va./Kings Fork HS) gave the WildCats a 28-27 lead with 3:44 remaining in the half. The game was tied again, this time at 29-29, with 3:10 left. The Marlins ended the half on a 9-5 run to take a 38-34 lead at halftime.

VWU started the second half on a 6-0 run to go up 44-34 which was part of a 15-4 run by the Marlins to take a 53-38 lead on the WildCats. The Marlin lead stood at 60-46 with 9:17 remaining to play. The WildCats then went on a 14-2 run spanning over four and a half minutes of game time to pull to within two points, 62-60, with under five minutes left to play. Virginia Wesleyan answered with a 9-2 run to close out the game and pull away from the 'Cats to secure the victory.

Randolph shot 22-of-52 (42.3%) from the floor and was 8-of-18 (44.4%) from behind the three-point arc. The Marlins were 21-of-54 (38.9%) overall and 4-of-19 (21.1%) in three-point attempts. The Marlins edged out the WildCats in rebounds 36-35.

Stacy Byrd (Amelia Court House, Va./The Carmel School) led Randolph with 15 points and he shot a perfect 6-of-6 from the floor. Depriest finished with 12 points, six rebounds, two blocks, and one steal. Trey Miller (Virginia Beach, Va./Green Run HS) added 11 points and eight rebounds with Steven Burgess Jr. (Coeur d'Alene, ID/Coeur d'Alene HS) chipping in 11 points and five rebounds.

The WildCats are back home on Wednesday as they host Southern Virginia in non-conference action. Game time from Giles Gymnasium will be at 7:00 p.m.