The victories made Randolph-Macon 5-1 on the season and 3-0 in the ODAC. The Yellow Jackets were ranked #11 in the latest D3hoops.com poll, which is usually released every Tuesday.
SATURDAY, DECEMBER 3RD:
Randolph-Macon College 71, Washington and Lee University 42
The outcome was never in doubt, as Randolph-Macon was ahead for the entire contest. In the first half, the biggest lead was 20 points, 34-14, with four minutes remaining before halftime. The margin at the break was 19 points, 36-17. The second period was more of the same, with the largest advantage at 33 points, 66-33, with a little under four minutes left.
Leading Randolph-Macon was senior All-American forward Justin Wansley (Richmond, VA/Henrico), with game-highs of 16 points and five steals. He shot 6-for-9 from the floor (66.7%). Junior guard Stephen Sutherland (Morgantown, WV/Fairmont) added 10 points, making 3-of-5 field goals, including 2-of-4 three-pointers. Freshman guard Justin Short (Chesterfield, VA/Manchester) added nine points. Sophomore forward Jeremy Dixon (Manheim, PA/Hempfield) pulled down a game-high six rebounds.
For Washington and Lee, sophomore forward Greg Bienemann (Chatham, NJ/Chatham) scored 12 points on 6-of-7 shooting (85.7%).
SUNDAY, DECEMBER 4TH:
Randolph-Macon College 71, Roanoke College 61
This game included multiple ties and lead changes, big runs by both teams, and five technical fouls. However, after trailing by eight points at halftime, 34-26, Randolph-Macon would outscore the Maroons 45-27 in the second half to pull out the win.
After four ties and three lead changes in the first 12 minutes of the contest, Roanoke would hold onto the lead for the rest of the first half. The Maroons were ahead by as many as 10 points, 32-22, late in the period.
Roanoke took a 10-point lead again to open the second half, 36-26. But a 10-0 run by the Yellow Jackets tied the score at 36-36. The visitors would extend that run to 20-2, and led by eight points, 46-38, almost midway through the period. A 12-2 surge by the Maroons gave them a 50-48 advantage with about nine minutes remaining in the contest.
After a tie at 50-50, Randolph-Macon regained the lead, and the Yellow Jackets would not trail again. However, there were two more ties before the visitors went ahead for good. With the score knotted at 56-56 with about four minutes left, a three-pointer by junior guard Adam Krovic (Durham, NC/Jordan) gave the Yellow Jackets a 59-56 advantage. The visitors would end up outscoring Roanoke 15-5 to close out the game.
Again Wansley led Randolph-Macon, with team-highs of 13 points, seven rebounds and four assists. Short tied his career-high with 11 points and also grabbed a career-high five rebounds. Junior forward Phil Hawley (Weirton, WV/Tri-State Christian Academy) also scored 11 points, and pulled down six rebounds. Both Hawley and Short made 3-of-4 field goals. Hawley was also a perfect 5-for-5 at the foul line, while Short went 5-for-6 (83.3%) at the charity stripe.
Roanoke was led by senior guard Jared Butler (Springfield, VA/West Springfield), with 13 points, six rebounds and four assists. He made 5-of-6 free throws (83.3%). Freshman center Curtis Peery (Salem, VA/Salem) totalled 11 points in 17 minutes off the bench. Sophomore forward Josh LaPorte (Staunton, VA/Riverheads) added 10 points.