BRIDGEWATER, Va. – Sophomore Josh Talbert (Virginia Beach, Va./Kellam) scored a career-high 23 in his first career start to lead the Randolph-Macon men's basketball team to a 74-56 non-conference victory at Bridgewater in the season opener for both teams.

The Basics:

Score: Randolph-Macon 74, Bridgewater 56

Location/Venue: Bridgewater, Va./Nininger Hall

Records: R-MC 1-0, BC 0-1

How it Happened:

• Talbert had a pair of three-pointers sandwiched around two layups as R-MC took a 12-2 lead 5:20 into the contest. Following four free throws by the Eagles, freshman Lance Johnson (South Riding, Va./Freedom) hit two foul shots and a layup as the Yellow Jackets took a 16-6 advantage midway through the first half. The R-MC defense held BC to one field goal in those first 10 minutes. Talbert had two baskets around a trey by senior Buzz Anthony (Arnold, Md./Archbishop Spalding) as the Yellow Jackets went up a dozen at 23-11 with 7:35 left in the first period. The Eagles cut the deficit to six before a triple by Talbert made it 28-19 with 4:40 left. BC used a 13-4 run to knot the score at 32 before a step-back trey by Anthony just before the horn gave the visitors a 35-32 edge at the break. Talbert scored 17 points, while Anthony chipped in 10 points with four assists.
• The first seven buckets of the second half by the Yellow Jackets were all layups, including three by Talbert and two each by junior Ian Robertson (Lewes, Del./Cape Henlopen) and sophomore Miles Mallory (Beltsville, Md./St. Vincent Pallotti) as R-MC went up 47-34 four minutes into the second period. Another three-pointer by Anthony followed a pair of free throws by Mallory to cap a 19-2 spurt as the Yellow Jackets went up 20 at 54-34 with 14:25 remaining. The R-MC defense held BC to one field goal in the first eight minutes of the second stanza. The Eagles scored five straight points before a layup by Mallory and a triple by senior Lorenzo Woods (Burlington, N.C./Burlington School) pushed the advantage back to 20 at 59-39 with 8:45 left. Following a pair of treys by BC, Mallory had a three-point play to cap a 7-0 run as the lead grew to 22 at 67-45 with four minutes remaining. A short jumper by junior Daquan Morris (Philadelphia, Pa./Hill School) gave the visitors their largest lead of 23 at 73-50 with 1:15 remaining before recording a 74-56 victory.

By The Numbers:

• R-MC had three score in double figures. Along with 23 by Talbert, Mallory had 15 and Anthony finished with 13. Mallory had 13 of his 15 points in the second half.
• Anthony dished out nine assists and Woods added five.
• Talbert and Mallory paced the victors with six rebounds each.
• R-MC held a 34-18 advantage on points in the paint.
• R-MC forced 16 turnovers and committed nine. Anthony and Talbert had four steals apiece. The Yellow Jackets had a 19-12 edge in points off turnovers.

For The Record

• The Yellow Jackets have won three straight season openers.
• R-MC has won seven straight, 18 of 20 and 30 of the past 34 meetings with Bridgewater.
• The Yellow Jackets are 36-6 (86%) in the month of January over the past six seasons under head coach Josh Merkel.
• Anthony has 1,230 career points, passing Kevin Wood's total of 1,222 to move into 26th place in program history.
• Anthony has 496 career assists, good for third place in program history.
• Anthony has 168 career steals, two behind Paul Gartlan in fifth place.

Up Next:

• Randolph-Macon will travel to Ferrum on Saturday, Jan. 23 for a 2 p.m. ODAC contest.