LYNCHBURG, VA – The Randolph College men's basketball team shook off a slow first-half start to outscore visiting Johnson & Wales University by 21 points in the second half in earning a 77-54 non-conference victory Monday evening in play from the Randolph Athletics and Dance (RAD) Center.

                The WildCats (3-0) led by as much as 15 points in the opening stanza, as senior Colton Hunt (Whittier, NC/Smoky Mountain) completed the traditional three-point play with 9:56 left in the period to put Randolph up 26-11. Visiting Johnson & Wales would rally, posting a 19-3 run over the next eight-plus minutes to pull even with Randolph at 29. First-year DJ Langley (Raleigh, NC/Ravenscroft) posted a lay-up just before the half to give Randolph a 31-29 lead at intermission.

                Randolph would come out of the gates quick though, growing the lead to 11 with 12:27 left after a lay-up from first-year Taylor Smith (Mullen, WV/Wyoming East). Smith posted a career-high 10 points on the evening, going four-of-six from the field. The WildCats held JWU without a point for over four minutes in the middle part of the half.

                The hosts would continue to grow their lead, taking the biggest edge of the night at 25 thanks to a pair of free throws from Hunt. Randolph shot 53.3 percent from the floor in the deciding period, holding its opponents to just eight-of-29 from the floor.

                The WildCats were paced by the 25 points from Hunt, who posted his eighth 25-point affair of his career and second this season. Hunt is now averaging 25 points per game this season, and now has 1,275 points for his career. Hunt also grabbed a team-leading seven rebounds and picked up four steals.

                Junior Mike Ehilegbu (Raleigh, NC/Ravenscroft) was seven-of-12 from the floor, finishing with 14 points, six rebounds and four assists. Senior center Chris Battaglia (Smithfield, VA/Portsmouth) was strong again for the third straight game, scoring 12 points in 20 minutes of action. First-year guard Evan Horn (Westminster, MD/Winters Mill) had nine points and four boards, while Langley ended the night with five points, six caroms, three helpers and two steals.

                Johnson & Wales (NC) was paced by the 17 points and eight rebounds from Kindrick Anderson, while reserve Joshua Cohen posted 12 points off the bench for the Wildcats. Jay Keller posted 11 points as well for JWC, which finished 18-of-52 (34.6 percent) from the floor.

                Randolph won the rebounding battle 44-36, and forced Johnson & Wales into 27 turnovers on the night. The WildCats did struggle at the line though, making just 19-of-33 (57.6 percent) from the charity stripe.

                The WildCats will now get nine days off before opening Old Dominion Athletic Conference (ODAC) play with a road test at Bridgewater College Wednesday November 28 at 7 p.m.

--RANDOLPH--