For Immediate Release – 11/28/12 - #144

Randolph Men's Basketball Rallies for 65-61 Road Win Over Bridgewater College

                BRIDGEWATER, VA – The Randolph College men's basketball team erased a 12-point lead by hosting Bridgewater College over the last 8:05 in earning a thrilling 65-61 come-from-behind win over the Eagles in the Old Dominion Athletic Conference (ODAC) opener for each team.

                The win for the WildCats (4-0/1-0 ODAC) was the third consecutive win over Bridgewater, and also marked the third straight season Randolph has opened the ODAC slate with a win over BC. It did not come easy though, as Ronnie Thomas connected on a three-pointer with a little over eight minutes to play to make the score 50-38.

                That's when Randolph would slowly but methodically start to climb back into the game, as first-years Jason Eddie (Charlotte, NC/Davidson Day School) and Zach Walton (Timberville, VA/Broadway) connected on triples to pull the game to within six at 50-44 with 6:02 remaining. A pair of free throws though by the Eagle's Daniel McClain would make the count 58-50 with 2:38 left in the game.

                Not deterred, the WildCats picked up the defensive intensity and held the Eagles (3-2/0-1 ODAC) without a point until the 42 second mark. During that stretch, Randolph went on a 9-0 spurt, capped by a driving lay-up to take the lead at 59-58 with 51 seconds left by rookie Evan Horn (Westminster, MD/Winters Mill).

                Thomas would answer with a pair of free throws to pull the Eagles back on top at 60-59. With just about 30 seconds left, Colton Hunt (Whittier, NC/Smoky Mountain) drove the lane and was fouled, and Thomas voiced his displeasure and was assessed a technical foul. Hunt missed by technical free throws, but converted on his shooting foul shots to put Randolph back on top 61-60. Ed Reddick earned two shots the next time down for BC, and converted on one to make the game 61 all with 15 seconds left.

                The game down to one possession, and senior Chris Battaglia (Smithfield, VA/Portsmouth) hit possible the biggest shot of his Randolph career, nailing a jumper from the free throw elbow to put the 'Cats ahead for good at 63-61. Battaglia would also be fouled with one second left following a turnover, and made both to ice the game and win for the visitors.

                With all that Hunt has done at Randolph College, Wednesday marked the first time he had ever posted a double-double, as the senior guard chalked up a game-high 28 points as well as a game and career best of 11 rebounds. Hunt was seven-of-16 from the floor, making 13 of his 17 shots from the line.

                Battaglia finished with 10 points, and Taylor Smith (Mullens, WV/Wyoming East) came off the bench to score nine points and grab three boards in only 11 minutes of action. The WildCats were 20-of-50 (40 percent) from the floor, but made 22 of their 29 free throws. Junior guard Mike Ehilegbu (Raleigh, NC/Ravenscroft) scored four only four points, as he was hindered with foul issues much of the evening.

                Thomas was the catalyst for Bridgewater, as the junior guard posted 22 points, four assists and four steals. Aaron Adams came off the bench to net 11 points, while Reddick had a team-leading eight boards. Bridgewater shot an identical 40 percent from the floor (20-50), but lost the rebounding battle 41-29.

                The first half was controlled largely by Bridgewater, leading by as much as 12 though Randolph went on a late 11-2 run to make the score 30-28 in favor of the Eagles at the half. The WildCats will try to match their best start for a season ever this Saturday, when they head to Lexington, VA for a 2 p.m. tip with the Generals of Washington and Lee University in more ODAC play.

--RANDOLPH--