LYNCHBURG, VA – The Randolph College men's basketball team hit 10 three-pointers in the first half, building a 24-point halftime lead as the WildCats cruised to a 71-42 victory over the Bison of Gallaudet University Monday evening in non-conference action from the Randolph Athletics and Dance (RAD) Center.
Randolph (5-2) hit the 10 three-pointers on 21 first-half heaves, as the 'Cats upped their winning streak to five. Sophomore guard Mike Ehilegbu (Raleigh, NC/Ravenscroft) and junior Colton Hunt (Whittier, NC/Smoky Mountain) combined for nine trifectas in the period, as Randolph's tandem of guards score 31 points among themselves.
The WildCats never trailed throughout the evening, but the Bison (3-5) kept it close early on, trimming the Randolph advantage to two at 12:08 on a jumper from Jaris Alleyne. After Randolph built the lead up to five, the WildCats would finish the half on a 19-0 run over the last 6:54 to pull away.
Randolph would continue to add to its lead, cruising to the final 29-point victory. Hunt and Ehilegbu each finished with 19 points to lead the WildCats, and senior Derrick Woods-Morrow (Greensboro, NC/NE Guilford) 11 points and six boards for Randolph in limited minutes. Hunt also posted six rebound and seven steals, which is tied for the second-most thefts ever in game at Randolph.
First-year guard Zach Desgain (Richmond, VA/J.R. Tucker) continued to show his all-around game, as he contributed four points, nine rebounds, and eight assists and no turnovers. The assist total was also the second-most in a game ever for the Randolph men's program. Junior post Dylan Shiflett (Virginia Beach, VA/Cape Henry) also added eight points off the bench for the WildCats.
Randolph didn't shoot as well as it had in previous contests, finishing at only 42.2 percent, but knocked down 11 of the 33 attempts from distance in the win. The WildCats also won the rebounding battle 44-38 and forced GU into 24 turnovers.
Gallaudet was paced by the 11 points from Jaris Alleyne, and Tony Tatum and Layton Seeber each also had eight points apiece. The Bison only shot 28.1 percent from the floor, including nailing just six of its 23 long distance attempts.
Randolph returns to Old Dominion Athletic Conference (ODAC) play Wednesday evening as the WildCats head to Hampden-Sydney College for a 7 p.m. tip with the Tigers.