NEWPORT NEWS, Va. - Senior Chris Hamilton (Bellbrook, Ohio/Bellbrook) nailed a three-pointer with 5.9 seconds in regulation, but the No. 11 Randolph-Macon men's basketball team dropped a 71-70 decision at No. 24 Christopher Newport Tuesday evening.
The Yellow Jackets (1-1) trailed 60-55 with 1:30 remaining in the second half before using a 9-4 run to force overtime.
Hamilton was fouled on a three-pointer on R-MC's first overtime possession and made all three free throws to give the Yellow Jackets a 67-64 lead. R-MC would not hit a field goal in the extra period and missed five of its final eight free throw attempts. The Yellow Jackets did have a chance to win, trailing 71-70 and having the ball under their basket with 6.6 seconds remaining. R-MC missed a shot and two tips to suffer the one-point loss.
Senior Joe Hassell (Portsmouth, Va./Indian River) recorded a double-double with 18 points and 10 rebounds. Hamilton finished with 11 points, while senior Marcus Badger (Plymouth Meeting, Pa./Plymouth-Whitemarsh) chipped in 10.
The teams stayed within two points of each other until the Captains took a 12-8 lead with 12:35 left in the first half. The Yellow Jackets scored eight straight points, four by Hassell, to take a 20-14 advantage with eight minutes remaining in the period. CNU used a 13-3 run to reclaim a four-point lead at 27-23 with less than four minutes remaining in the half. R-MC closed the period with a 9-4 spurt to take a 32-31 lead to the locker room at the break.
Senior Connor Sullivan (Charlotte, N.C./Providence Day School) led the Yellow Jackets with seven points in the first half, while Hassell and senior Akeem Holmes (King William, Va./King William) each added six. Holmes led the visitors with six rebounds.
R-MC pushed the lead to three early in the second half at 39-36 before CNU used an 8-0 run to assume a 44-39 advantage with 12 minutes left in the period. Hassell hit a pair of free throws with 5:34 remaining in the half before a 10-5 spurt by the Captains gave the home team a 60-55 lead.
The Yellow Jackets head north to play in the Hoopsville National Invitational this weekend. R-MC faces Mary Hardin Baylor on Friday at 6 pm and Wittenberg on Saturday at 8 pm.