For immediate release – 1/11/2014 - #171
Hornet Second-Half Rally Falls Short in 81-72 Loss to Randolph-Macon

LYNCHBURG, VA – The Lynchburg College men's basketball team went on a run in the second half, but was outmatched down the stretch in Saturday's 81-72 loss to Randolph-Macon College in Old Dominion Athletic Conference action.

The Hornets led early when a Gary Boone II jumper netted Lynchburg a 2-1 lead, but the home team would not have the upper hand again until 10 minutes into the final half of play.

Down nine at halftime, Lynchburg fell behind by double-digits when Joe Hassell scored a layup to open the second half. Following a layup by Alex Graves, Connor Sullivan drained a 3-pointer for the Yellow Jackets for the 44-32 advantage. That would be the largest lead for the visitors.

Graves scored the next six Hornet points to counter three-straight from Hassell to get Lynchburg back within single-digits, 47-38.

Lynchburg continued on a 16-6 run to take just its second lead of the game, 54-53, when Boone knocked down a jumper from just inside the three-point arc. Manny Hernandez had nine points during the run, finishing with a team-high 21 to go with eight rebounds, after contributed only two points in the first half.

Marcus Badger made sure the Hornet lead did not last long as he connected on his only three-point attempt of the game to put the Yellow Jackets back up by two points.

Layups by Graves and Zack Burnett put the Hornets back in front 58-56, but a three-point play by Sullivan jumped the Yellow Jackets ahead for good.

Hernandez made one final attempt at a comeback when his jumper at 4:03 closed the gap to 69-67. Randolph-Macon followed with a 6-0 run capped off by shots from Trent Walker and Evan Jackson despite suffocating Hornet defensive pressure to go up eight with 1:54 left.

Graves joined Hernandez as Hornets in double-figures, finishing with 17 points, five rebounds, and career-high four blocks. Omar Kemp continued his impressive play with 11 points and a pair of rejections.

Sullivan led the Yellow Jackets (9-4/3-1) with 20 points and four rebounds while Badger added 16 points, four boards, and three assists. Andre Simon had 13 points and game-highs of eight rebounds and four assists. Walker rounded out the Jackets in double-figures with 11 points in 19 minutes of action.

Lynchburg (9-4/2-2) continues ODAC play with a home game against Roanoke College (6-5/0-3) Wednesday night at 7 p.m.