SALEM, Va. --- A Marcus
Badger jumper with 35 seconds left on the clock gave the
Yellow Jackets their first lead of the game at 57-56. On Guilford's
ensuing possession, Badger blocked Josh Pittman's three-point
attempt to preserve R-MC's advantage and propel the Yellow Jackets
into the semifinals of the ODAC Basketball Tournament.
With the victory, Randolph-Macon improves to 17-9 and will square
off with Hampden-Sydney College in Saturday's second men's
semifinal at the Salem Civic Center in Salem, Va. The Quakers
complete their season with an 18-9 overall record.
The Quakers jumped out to an early 18-4 lead over the Yellow
Jackets after a Pittman jumper with 13:36 left to play.
R-MC chipped away at the deficit over the next nine minutes,
pulling within five points after an 18-9 run capped by a Sullivan
trifecta.
GC got four points down the stretch by Jake Hopkins to take a 34-28
advantage into the intermission.
The Quakers extended their lead to 15, going on a 16-10 run in the
first five minutes of the second half.
R-MC came out of a time-out at the 13:26 mark and held the Quakers
without a field goal over the last 13:41 of the contest. For the
entire second half, R-MC held GC to 26.7-percent shooting from the
field.
The Yellow Jackets' offense responded and pulled within one point
after a Simon layup with 1:44 on the clock. Joe
Hassell rebounded Guilford's missed shot to give Badger
the open jumper to take the lead and secure the victory.
R-MC was led by sophomore Connor
Sullivan's 12 points while Second Team All-ODAC
selection, Andre
Simon, chipped in with 11 points and eight rebounds. Fellow
second team honoree, Lamar
Giggetts, added eight points and 11 boards. Badger had a solid
game of eight points, four assists and five steals for the Yellow
Jackets.
Guilford was led by 13 points from Will Freeman, while Pittman
added 12 markers. Hopkins chipped in six points and a game-high 11
rebounds.
The Yellow Jackets will be back in action on Saturday at 8:00 p.m.
as they take on archrival Hampden-Sydney in the semifinals of the
ODAC Tournament.
--- This release is
courtesy of the Randolph-Macon College sports information
department. ---
www.rmcathletics.com