ASHLAND, Va. – Senior Buzz Anthony (Arnold, Md./Archbishop Spalding) scored a game-high 30 points, one away from his career high, as the top-ranked Randolph-Macon men's basketball team defeated Salisbury 79-55 on Wednesday afternoon.

The Basics:

Score: Randolph-Macon 79, Salisbury 55

Location/Venue: Ashland, Va./Crenshaw Gymnasium

Records: R-MC 3-0, Salisbury 2-1

How it Happened:

• The Sea Gulls jumped out to a quick 6-3 lead and were up 8-7 before a three-point play by Anthony highlighted a 7-0 run as the Yellow Jackets took a 14-6 advantage with 13:40 left in the first half. SU pulled within four at 19-15 before a 19-2 spurt by R-MC made it 38-17 with 3:40 remaining. Anthony had eight points and five different players scored during the run. Following a timeout, the Sea Gulls scored 11 of the final 13 points of the period, trailing 40-28 at the break. Anthony finished with 15 first-half points in 12 minutes, while senior Lorenzo Woods (Burlington, N.C./Burlington School) added eight and junior Ian Robertson (Lewes, Del./Cape Henlopen) scored seven.
• SU had the first bucket of the second half to cut it to 10, but that would be as close as the Sea Gulls would get. A layup by sophomore Miles Mallory (Beltsville, Md./St. Vincent Pallotti) pushed the lead to 15 at 47-32 two minutes into the second period. SU trailed by 12 before a jumper by Mallory capped an 8-0 push to make it 60-40 with 11 minutes remaining. A three-pointer and a fast break layup by Anthony gave the home team its largest lead at 69-45 with 7:45 left. Sophomore Josh Talbert (Virginia Beach, Va./Kellam) had the final basket of the game and freshman Will Paige () sank two free throws with just over a minute remaining to make the final 79-55.

By The Numbers:

• R-MC had three score in double figures. Along with 30 by Anthony, Woods put up 13 and Robertson finished with 10.
• Anthony went 10 for 20 from the floor, 3 for 5 on treys and 7 for 7 from the free throw line.
• Anthony led the Yellow Jackets with five assists.
• Mallory paced the Yellow Jackets with nine rebounds, while Anthony pulled down a season-high six.
• R-MC forced 17 turnovers and committed just six. The Yellow Jackets had a 22-4 edge in points off turnovers.

For The Record

• Anthony was one point away from his career high. He scored 31 against Washington and Lee on Feb. 23, 2019 in the semifinals of the ODAC Tournament.
• R-MC has held each of its first three opponents to less than 60 points.
• This was the 250th game as a head coach for Josh Merkel in 10 seasons. He led Salisbury for 107 games in four seasons.
• R-MC extended its home winning streak to 28 games, the longest current streak in Division III.
• The Yellow Jackets are 38-6 (86%) in the month of January over the past six seasons under head coach Josh Merkel.
• Anthony has 1,276 career points, moving past Mike Boyer and into a tie for 24th place in program history with Kurt Bergmann.
• Anthony has 505 career assists, good for third place in program history.
• Anthony has 170 career steals, tied with Paul Gartlan in fifth place.

Up Next:

• Randolph-Macon will host Lynchburg on Saturday, Jan. 30 at 2 p.m. in ODAC action.