For Immediate Release – 12/8/12 - #156

Hunt Explodes for 36 Points In Randolph Men's 83-51 Victory Over Shenandoah

                LYNCHBURG, VA – For the second consecutive game, senior guard Colton Hunt (Whittier, NC/Smoky Mountain) broke the school record for points in a game with 36, and Randolph College outscored visiting Shenandoah University by 32 points in the first-half to coast to a 83-51 win Saturday in an Old Dominion Athletic Conference (ODAC) tilt.

                Hunt broke his own school mark that stood for a whopping three days, as he poured in his career-high of 36 on 13-of-18 shooting. Scoring wasn't the only thing that Hunt did, as the preseason All-American guard posted a game-best 12 rebounds, five assists and four steals. He is averaging 26.4 points per game on the season, as the WildCats are out to an 8-0 start with a 3-0 record in the ODAC.

                The first half was where Randolph put the game away, as the defense of the WildCats held Shenandoah (3-6/0-3 ODAC) to just 18 points on 17.9 percent shooting in the opening stanza. On the contrary, the host WildCats shot 17-of-32 from the floor including a blistering eight-of-15 from downtown to post a 50-18 lead at the break. Hunt outscored the Hornets by himself, as he posted 28 of his 36 in the first period.

                The second half saw the visitors and WildCats play to a 33-all draw, though Randolph led by as much as 40 points midway through the period, cruising to the win. Junior guard Mike Ehilegbu (Raleigh, NC/Ravenscroft) posted a double-double of 16 points and 10 rebounds, his second career occurrence with double digits in points and rebounds.

                First-year guard Corey Brown (Williamsburg, VA/Walsingham) scored six points and grabbed five rebounds, fellow newcomer Zach Walton (Timberville, VA/Broadway) continued his solid play of late with seven points on perfect three-of-three shooting, and Evan Horn (Westminster, MD/Winters Mill) had a career-high of seven assists. The assists total for Horn was the fourth-most by any player in a game in program history.

                The WildCats finished the contest 31-of-59 on the afternoon from the floor, making 11 three-pointers along the way. The 11 trifectas were the fourth-most in a game for the hosts. Randolph also out-rebounded Shenandoah 46-30, with the 46 boards being the fourth-most in a contest ever for the 'Cats.

                "I was really pleased with how our guys were focused coming into today, I thought we were ready to start," said head coach Clay Nunley. "It was everybody across the board, locked in, ready to contribute, and I think that made us a very good team today."

                Shenandoah was paced by the 14 points from Shaquille Rodney, while Corey Bedford had eight points off the bench for the Hornets. SU shots 28.6 percent (16-56) from the floor, hitting on just five of its 24 triple attempts.

                Randolph is off for a week before returning to the Randolph Athletics and Dance Center to host Methodist University Saturday, December 15 at 2 p.m. in non-conference action.

--RANDOLPH--