For Immediate Release – 12/5/12 - #155

Colton Hunt Notches Program Record 35 Points in 78-59 Home Triumph Over Ferrum

                LYNCHBURG, VA – Senior guard Colton Hunt (Whittier, NC/Smoky Mountain) continued to have one of the most impressive seasons of any player in Division III, as he notched a career and program-record 35 points in helping the Randolph College men's basketball team to a 78-59 non-conference win over Ferrum College Wednesday evening.

                Hunt, who now has the top eight individual scoring games in program history, topped the 32-point output that he had done twice in his career. The senior guard is now averaging 25 points per game this season, and has led the WildCats to a perfect 7-0 record on the campaign.

                The contest was controlled by the Panthers (4-3) for the first part of the opening half, with Ferrum leading by as much as eight at 17-9 with 13:33 left to play in the period. Randolph roared back, going on a 10-1 spurt to take a 19-18 lead following a traditional three-point play from first-year Corey Brown (Williamsburg, VA/Walsingham).

                Ferrum retook the lead on the next possession, but Randolph stormed out on a 24-4 run over the next seven minutes of action to take an 18-point lead. The WildCats weren't done though, as first-year forward Jason Eddie (Charlotte, NC/Davidson Day School) nailed back-to-back trifectas at the end of the period to give the hosts a 49-29 lead at intermission.

                The advantage in the second half hovered around 20 until Ferrum put together an 8-0 run of its own to make the game 58-46 with 12 minutes left. Slowly though the WildCats increased their back up 20 with just over five minutes to go after a lay-up from Hunt. The senior guard scored 19 of his 35 points in the second half as Randolph cruised to the win.

                Hunt netted his program-record on 13-of-20 shooting, hitting seven of his 10 free throws. Hunt also grabbed five boards and corralled four steals. Junior Mike Ehilegbu (Raleigh, NC/Ravenscroft) did a little of everything, scoring 12 points to go with six boards and six assists. Senior center Chris Battaglia (Smithfield, VA/Portsmouth) also had 11 points and five caroms, while Eddie was three-of-four from downtown for nine points.

                Randolph shot 55.3 percent (26-47) from the floor, including knocking down 10-of-18 from deep. The WildCats forced Ferrum into 20 turnovers, and also had a season-high four blocks. The visiting Panthers were led by the 25 points from first-year guard JD Wallace, who nailed five-of-six from behind the arc. Lamont King added 12 points for the Panthers, who were eight-of-15 (53.3 percent) as a team from deep.

                The WildCats will look to continue their hot start Saturday with a home game against the Hornets of Shenandoah University at 2 p.m. in the Randolph Athletics and Dance (RAD) Center.

--RANDOLPH--