HARRISONBURG, Va. - It's always a good thing to be playing your best basketball at the end of the season. 

After picking up a narrow seven-point win at Randolph earlier this season, the Royals, who are playing as well as almost anyone in the ODAC right now, led for the majority of the game en route to a big 81-57 win over the WildCats. The win moves EMU to 9-12, 7-7 ODAC. 

Highlights

• Both offenses started out cold, with the teams combining to go 0-10 from the field and the score staying knotted at 0 for the first 2:30. Aviwe Mahlong and Mark Burkholder hit back-to-back layups to end the scoring drought and put EMU up 4-0. Five straight from Randolph gave them a one-point advantage before Tim Jones hit a three to put EMU back on top. The WildCats tied and took the lead with another five-point stretch but Mahlong answered with back-to-back threes along with a Mizz Nyagwegwe triple to put EMU ahead six, a lead they wouldn't relinquish. 
• DaiJordan Brown hit a three and Burkholder added a layup to extend the Royals lead to double-digits at the 10:00 mark. Julien Hagerman hit his first triple of the game and EMU was cruising. Randolph was able to pull within six, 23-29, late in the half, but EMU ended the final five minutes on a 12-7 run, capped by a Jones three in the waning seconds of the half, to go into the locker room ahead 41-30. 
• The teams traded points to start the second half before a pair of Jones freethrows, a Nyagwegwe jumper and Landon Swingler three put EMU ahead 52-36. The teams once again swapped baskets, with EMU holding onto a big lead, 60-44. A Michael Watlington layup, five straight from Hagerman and another Burkholder layup pushed the lead to 25, the Royals largest lead of the game. 
• A Jones dunk and a Mahlong put the cap on the game and signaled the end of the day for the Royals starters. Damien Fisher checked in and added five straight for EMU who swept the season series against the WildCats. 
• Hagerman had a career-high 14 points on 5-6 shooting, including 4-5 from three, in 16 minutes off the bench for EMU. Jones added 14 and six assists while Mahlong dropped 13. Burkholder picked up his second double-double of the season with 10 points and 13 rebounds. Nyagwegwe also scored in double figures, chipping in 10 with four rebounds and four assists. 

By the Numbers

• 7 - With today's win, EMU moves to 7-7 in the ODAC. Seven conference wins is the most in a season for the Royals since they went 9-7 during the 2014-15 season, seven years ago. 
• 1,134  - In Saturday's win, EMU's defensive effort gave up just 57 points. That's the fewest points allowed by EMU since a 65-49 win over Hampden-Sydney on Jan. 5, 2019...1,134 days ago. 
• 40 - The Royals shot 44.1% from the field in Saturday's win. That's the seventh straight game they've shot at least 40% from the field and their 15th of the season. 

Postgame Interview with J. Hagerman and M. Burkholder

What's Next

EMU will wrap up its 2021-22 road slate with a very important conference matchup against W&L on Tuesday. Tipoff is scheduled in Lexington for 7 pm. 

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