For Immediate Release – 12/3/16 - #135
WildCats Come From Behind For Big Win

LYNCHBURG, VA – The Randolph College men's basketball team came back from a large deficit on Saturday against Ferrum College.  After being down by as many as 16, the WildCats defeated the Panthers 81-66 in a nonconference game.

Despite an early and-one by Ryan Fields, FC posted a 21-5 lead after hitting a three with 14:10 on the clock.  But the tides would soon change as points were traded between the teams.  Fields scored while being fouled again, but it was answered.  Drew Hayden caught a pass from Fields soon after and he drilled a three.  A similar shot from the visitors made it 26-10, but Reid Jacobybegan his career game with a pair from the line.

Hayden followed the captain with another big three to cut the deficit to 11.  After a basket by the Panthers, Brian Smith scored five-straight, including another big three to bring the difference to only eight.  Once again, Ferrum countered with a bucket, but Hayden, Jacoby, and Fields scored six in-a-row to make it 30-26 in favor of the guests.

FC responded with a run that was reminiscent of the first few minutes of the game.  The burst put them up 39-26, but Jacoby and Fields hit back-to-back threes to shrink the disadvantage to seven.  The mark would remain that way through the rest of the half, as the teams went into the intermission 43-36 Ferrum.

Randolph came out of break as the stronger team.  Nick Goble made a free throw, before Jacoby hit another three, bringing things to 43-40.  The Panthers hit one from deep, but Andy Toeresponded with a layup.  Jacoby then converted an old fashioned three-point play to bring the game to the closest it had been since tip-off.

Jacoby continued his stellar afternoon by hitting two-straight threes, giving the WildCats the lead at 51-46.  After a free throw by the visitors, the 'Cats kept up their run.  Fields hit a layup, which was followed by a Goble free throw.  Then Jacoby made a layup.  Goble kept it going by tipping in a three-point shot by Hayden, as he outmuscled the opposing big man.  Toe capped it off with a layup to make the game 60-47 with 10:17 left.

The sides traded three points, as Toe had them for Randolph, before the visitors went on a small burst.  Ferrum scored six-straight, but were answered by eight in-a-row from the WildCats.  Goble posted four.

With the clock winding down, the Panthers began to press and foul.  The lead was temporarily cut to eight with under a minute left.  But Jacoby, Fields, and Chase VanHorn made five three throws to almost put it completely out of reach.  Then following a Smith-steal, Goble threw down a monster dunk to seal the victory.

Jacoby led four starters in double-figures with a career-high of 24 points.  He was 4-8 from three and 6-7 from the line.  Fields chipped in 17, with Goble and Hayden each adding 12 points.  The 'Cats were also successful on the boards, outrebounding their opponents 38-31.  Josh Grimard led Ferrum (3-4 overall) with 17 points.

Randolph (2-4) will finish its three game stay at home on Tuesday.  The WildCats welcome Methodist University (2-5) for a 7 p.m tip-off.