LYNCHBURG, Va.- The Randolph and Lynchburg men's basketball teams squared yet again in another chapter of the cross-city rivalry between the two teams on Tuesday evening at Turner Gym. The WildCats had a double-digit lead on the Hornets late into the second half and held off a Lynchburg rally in defeated the Hornets 80-76.
The win for the WildCats snaps an eight-game losing streak to Lynchburg and is just the seventh ever against the Hornets. It is the first victory for Randolph over the Hornets since 2016 and the first win on Lynchburg's court since 2013. The 'Cats improve to 6-15 overall and 3-10 in the ODAC. The Hornets drop to 13-8 and 7-5 in the conference.
Randolph fell behind 8-0 in the first half. The WildCats closed to within three points at 8-5 but Lynchburg went on a 10-0 run to go up 18-5 with 11:25 showing on the clock. A 12-5 WildCat run closed the Randolph deficit to six points at 23-17 with 7:45 remaining in the half. The 'Cats got to within a point, 28-37, after a three-point basket by Jordan Phillips-McLoyd (Johnson City, Tenn./Science Hill) with 2:44 showing on the clock. Lynchburg inched ahead to lead 31-27 with under two minutes to play in the half. A Danny Bickey (Beckley, W.V./Woodrow Wilson) three made it a one point game again and following a Lynchburg layup, Landon Wagoner's (Martinsville, Va./Carlisle School) layup with three seconds remaining put the score at 33-32 in Lynchburg's favor at halftime.
A three by Phillips-McLoyd and a layup by Bickey to start the second half gave Randolph a 37-33 lead under the 19-minute mark. Leading 55-50 with under 11 minutes to play, the WildCats used a 16-6 run to break away and take a 71-56 lead with 5:33 left in the game. A 16-5 run by Lynchburg, however, got the home team to within four points, 76-72, with 27 seconds left. Randolph made all four of its free throw attempts in the final 23 seconds and it was enough to hold off the Hornets in the end as the WIldCats walked away victorious.
"The character of our guys was impressive tonight," said head coach Pete Hamilton. "We started the game missing good shots but unfortunately that led to poor possessions and no transition defense. When we called timeout at 18-5 our guys had a choice to make and they came together. Once we started playing with a set defense we were able to string together possessions. Our zone worked well for us but it started with the decision from our guys to be more intentional and gritty."
Randolph shot nearly 41% (40.9%) from the floor on the night and were 9-of-26 (34.6%) in three-point attempts. The WildCats were 17-of-23 from the free throw line. Lynchburg led in total rebounds 51-47. The eight turnovers by the 'Cats marked a season-low.
Bickey led the way for the WildCats with 26 points and added five rebounds, two assists, and one steal. Phillips-McLoyd added 16 points, three rebounds, two assists, and one steal. Jerry Goodman (Suffolk, Va./Portsmouth Christian School) scored 14 points and dished out four assists. Wagoner tied his season-best with 12 points and pulled down a team-high 10 rebounds for his second-double effort of the season.
"Danny Bickey gives us such confidence when he's playing so free," noted Hamilton. "We felt like if we could change sides a few times then we could find him off staggers or pin downs later in possessions. Credit to our guards like Jerry and Jordan for delivering it when he was hot and to our bigs for being screeners. Landon Wagoner and Hunter Verling gave us a huge presence off the bench. Landon going for 12 and 10 and Hunter's activity and ability to knock down a late jumper and hit a FT late showed great poise."
Randolph travels to Eastern Mennonite on Saturday. Game time will be at 2:00 p.m. The WildCats lost to the Royals 79-72 back on January 8.
"Although the box doesn't show it - this one was for CJ Loving," said Hamilton. "He and I have each been trying to check this one off our list for some time together. I'm so happy for him. His presence and poise on the floor, in huddles, and at halftime is something that stands out more than stats for us. Our guys have earned another opportunity this weekend."