FROSTBURG, Md. (Nov. 21) – A jumper by senior Bobby Swartwout and a late defensive stand helped the Saint Vincent men's basketball team to a 70-68 victory over Randolph-Macon College in the season opener at Frostburg State.

The duo of Pat Jones and Jaylon Bell helped carry the SVC offense. Jones, a native of Frostburg, Md., scored a team-high 20 points to pace the Bearcats. Bell added 17 points and four assists for SVC.

The contest featured a pair of teams that won more than 20 games and made the NCAA Division III Tournament last March. Randolph-Macon went 28-3 last year and made it all the way to the Elite 8.

SVC opened the scoring as senior guard Ben Klimchock tallied the first points of the season, knocking down a three-point field goal less than a minute into the game.

SVC built an early 7-1 lead when senior guard Pat Jones made a layup off an assist from Bell. The Yellow Jackets would knock down three straight three-point shots, using a 9-0 run to take a 10-7 advantage with 15:36 to play first half.

Sophomore forward Austin Dedert stopped the Yellow Jacket run with a dunk, drawing SVC to a 10-9 deficit. SVC would regain the lead shortly thereafter when senior Dan Sinwell knocked down a three-pointer, making it 16-14 SVC. Dedert added a layup to push the lead to 18-14 for SVC.

The teams would trade three-pointers, including one for SVC by Jones, making it 21-17 and forcing RMC to take a timeout. Randolph-Macon would then use a 9-1 run to regain the lead, capped by a pair of free throws to make it 26-22 with just over six minutes left in the half.

A three-pointer by Jones cut the RMC advantage to 26-25. However, the Yellow Jackets knocked down back-to-back three-pointers to take a 32-25 lead with five minutes left in the first half.

Jones again helped stop the run, taking a steal coast-to-coast for a Bearcat layup, cutting the deficit to 32-27. JC Howard added a layup to bring SVC within 34-29 but RMC answered with a dunk off the fast break. SVC would close the half on a 5-3 run, including a three-pointer by Howard to close the first half scoring with a 37-34 deficit for the Bearcats.

The Bearcats started the second half with a strong run to regain the lead. After the teams exchanged baskets, Bell made a layup and Jones hit a pair of free throws, pushing SVC to a 40-39 lead at the 18:15 mark.

A three-point play the old fashioned way tied the game for Randolph-Macon at the 15:46 mark. The teams then traded baskets before a three-pointer put RMC back in front at 47-44. Shortly thereafter, Bell scored on a layup and added a free throw to tie things up at 47-47. After the teams traded a pair of baskets, RMC took the lead on a jumper, making it 53-51.

Bell hit back-to-back three-point field goals, making it 57-56 SVC with a little more than eight minutes to play. The Yellow Jackets would answer with a layup and a free throw to push the lead to 59-56.
Six straight points gave SVC a 62-59 lead with 5:37 to play, the last of which was a fadeaway jumper by Bell.

However, Randolph-Macon would respond with a 7-2 run, capped by a three-pointer to take a 66-64 lead with just under four minutes to play. Howard knocked down a jumper to tie the game 66-66 at the 3:04 mark.

Swartwout gave SVC a 68-66 advantage with 1:52 to play. After a layup tied it for RMC, Swartwout knocked down a jumper to give SVC a 70-68 advantage with a minute to play. A late defensive stand helped SVC preserve the victory.

SVC shot 49.2 percent from the field, compared to just 41.1 percent by Randolph-Macon. The Yellow Jackets held a 38-32 edge on the glass. LaMont Moore led RMC with a game-high 21 points.

The victory advances SVC to the Frostburg State Tournament Championship game against Hood College on Sunday afternoon. The Blazers are coached by Chad Dickman, a SVC alum and former Bearcat basketball standout player. Tip-off is slated for 3 p.m.