ASHLAND, Va. – Juniors Connor Sullivan (Charlotte, N.C./Providence Day School) and Chris Hamilton (Bellbrook, Ohio/Bellbrook) both scored 13, but Randolph-Macon dropped a 76-70 overtime decision to DeSales in the first round of the 2014 NCAA Division IIII Men's Basketball Tournament in front of 1,450 fans at Crenshaw Gymnasium.
Hamilton buried a three-pointer with four seconds left in the second half to knot the score at 60-60 and force overtime. The Bulldogs (19-9) never trailed in the extra frame, starting on a 9-2 run to take a 69-62 lead with 1:30 left. The Yellow Jackets (20-7) were able to close within four at 71-67 with 45 seconds left, but that would be as close as R-MC would get.
R-MC jumped out to a 10-4 lead in the game's first six minutes. Hamilton converted a layup with 4:14 to go in the first half to give the Yellow Jackets their largest lead at 27-18. R-MC missed its final nine shots of the period as DeSales closed on a 7-0 run to trail 27-25 at the break.
The Yellow Jackets scored the first four points of the second stanza to take a 31-25 lead with 18 minutes to go. The game was tied at 48-48 with seven minutes remaining before the Bulldogs used a 10-2 spurt to take a 58-50 advantage with just under five minutes remaining. Hamilton's trey capped a 10-2 run by the Yellow Jackets to force overtime.
Junior Trent Walker (Charlotte, N.C./Charlotte Christian) added 10 points and six rebounds for R-MC.
DeSales was dominant from the free throw line, hitting 25 of 28 (.893). The Bulldogs were 10-10 in the second half and 11-12 in overtime. DeSales also held a 49-36 advantage on the boards.
Mike Coleman put up 29 points and Kyle Hash added 26 for the Bulldogs.
DeSales will face Mary Washington on Saturday, March 8 at 7 p.m. in Crenshaw Gymnasium in the second round of the NCAA tourney. The Eagles defeated Springfield 78-58 for their first NCAA Tournament victory in program history.