ASHLAND, Va. – Junior Josh Talbert (Virginia Beach, Va./Kellam) led all players with 21 points and eight assists as the top-ranked Randolph-Macon men's basketball team beat Mitchell 99-57 Friday evening in the first round of the NCAA Tournament to extend its win streak to 22 games and tie the program record for victories in a season with 28.

The Basics:

Score: Randolph-Macon 99, Mitchell 57

Venue: Crenshaw Gymnasium

Records: R-MC 27-1, MC 17-11

How it Happened:

• Talbert had a dunk off the tap for the Yellow Jackets, followed by layups from senior DaQuan Morris (Philadelphia, Pa./Hill School) and sophomore Daniel Mbangue (Fairfax, Va./Fairfax) as R-MC jumped out to a 6-0 lead. The Mariners cut the deficit to four at 8-4 before three-pointers by Morris and senior Ian Robertson (Lewes, Del./Cape Henlopen) made up a 6-2 spurt as the home team took a 14-6 advantage five minutes into the contest. MC again closed to within four at 14-10 before a pair of layups by senior Buzz Anthony (Arnold, Md./Archbishop Spalding) sparked an 11-3 run that was capped by a triple from sophomore Will Coble (Charlotte, N.C./Davidson Day) to make it 25-13 with 8:40 remaining in the first half. The Mariners scored the next three points before a pair of treys from freshman Vincent Payne (Frederick, Md./St. Maria Goretti) highlighted a 15-2 run as the Yellow Jackets built a 40-18 lead with 3:35 left. Junior Miles Mallory (Beltsville, Md./St. Vincent Pallotti) had three buckets in the final two minutes and Morris made a layup just before the horn sounded as R-MC took a 52-26 lead to the locker room at the break.
• Mallory had two jumpers, Talbert had two layups and Anthony hit two treys in a 14-7 second-half start as the Yellow Jackets went up 66-33 with 15:35 remaining. The Mariners scored nine straight to pull within 24 before Talbert had four buckets to cap a 15-5 spurt as R-MC held an 81-47 advantage with eight minutes left. A free throw by junior Noah Lindsay (Moseley, Va./Benedictine) with 1:14 remaining game the Yellow Jackets their largest lead at 99-56 before MC had a free throw for the final point of the game to make the final score 99-57.

By The Numbers:

• The Yellow Jackets had three score in double figures. Talbert had 21 points, Anthony added 17 and Mallory chipped in 15.
• R-MC shot 59% from the floor (39-66), including 64% in the second half (18-28).
• The Yellow Jacket defense held Mitchell to 38% shooting from the floor (20-53).The Mariners were held to their lowest point total of the season.
• The Yellow Jackets had a 39-35 advantage on the boards. Mallory led R-MC with nine rebounds.
• Anthony had seven assists to go along with eight by Talbert.
• R-MC had a 54-24 advantage on points in the paint. The Yellow Jackets had a 31-12 advantage on bench points.

For The Record:

• R-MC set a program record for the most points scored in an NCAA Tournament game and the largest margin of victory.
• The Yellow Jackets tied the program record for wins in a season with 28. R-MC also won 28 in 2002-03, 2014-15 and 2019-20.
• R-MC has won 22 straight games and 45 of its past 46 contests. It is the third-longest win streak in program history.
• The Yellow Jackets extended their home win streak to 45 games, the longest current streak in Division III. The program record for home winning streak is 50 games, from 1961-66.
• Over the past four seasons, R-MC is 95-7 overall (.931) and 49-2 in ODAC contests (.961).
• Mallory had one block to raise his career total to 169, the second-highest total in program history. Pat Holland owns the R-MC record with 174.
• Anthony had 17 points to give him 1,910 for his career, the third-highest total in program history.
• Anthony had seven assists to give him 759, a program record.
• Anthony had four steals to give him 241, the most in program history.

Next Up:

• R-MC will face Babson in the second round of the NCAA Tournament on Saturday, March 5 at 7 p.m. This will be the first meeting between the Yellow Jackets and the Beavers. Tickets are available and will go on sale beginning at 6 p.m. Tickets are $15 for adults and $10 for youth and seniors.