Crusaders Big Second-Half Push Downs Yellow Jackets

WOOSTER, Ohio --- Capital held R-MC scoreless for a nine-minute period in the second-half as the Crusaders rallied for a 68-60 win over Randolph-Macon in the first round of the NCAA Division III Men's Basketball Tournament.

R-MC finishes the season 21-7 and made its third straight appearance in the NCAA Tournament.

After a Connor Sullivan three-pointer gave R-MC a 55-48 lead with 10:03 to go in the game, Capital would reel off the next 14 points taking a 62-55 lead on a lay-in by Kelly Winter.

A Calvin Croskey three pointer would draw the Jackets to four at 62-58 with 1:06 to play.

After a defensive stop, Lamar Giggetts made a bucket to cut the Crusaders lead to 62-60. As Capital was attempting to throw the ball in, R-MC's Andre Simon was pushed into the Crusader player taking the ball out. After the referees met, Simon was charged with a technical foul.

Winter would make two free-throws and then Mitch Westerheide would make a pair to give Capital a 66-60 lead and seal the game.

Croskey finished the game with a team-high 19 point, while Giggetts had 12. Adam Desgain had eight points as well for R-MC.

Winter finished with a game-high 20 points for Capital, while Spencer Niekamp scored 16 in the win.

The Yellow Jackets came out hot, making five of their first seven shots, taking an 8-0 lead on a Giggetts jumper with 15:29 to go in the half.

A Trent Walker layup would put R-MC out in front 12-3 before Capital rattled off eight straight points to pull within one at 12-11 with 12:20 play in the opening frame.

R-MC responded with a 12-2 run capped by a Croskey three-pointer that made the score 24-13 with just under eight minutes to go.

A Kelly Winter jumper got Capital to within six at 24-18 with less than five minutes to play before R-MC scored 10 of the final 14 points of the half to take a 34-22 lead to the locker room.

Capital rallied scoring the first nine points of the second half, with a Niekamp three pointer making the score 34-31.

Randolph-Macon would push its lead back up to eight on two occasions, but Capital continued to stay close, allowing the Crusaders to make the decisive run down the stretch.

--- This release is courtesy of the Randolph-Macon College sports information department. ---
athletics.rmc.edu