FORT WAYNE, Ind. – Senior Buzz Anthony (Arnold, Md./Archbishop Spalding) had his sixth double-double of the season with 12 points and 11 assists as the top-ranked Randolph-Macon men's basketball team used a balanced attack to defeat #2 Marietta 81-63 in the semfinials of the 2022 NCAA Division III Basketball Tournament to extend its win streak to 26 games, a program record, and reach 32 wins for the first time.

The Basics:

Score: Randolph-Macon 81, Marietta 63

Venue: Allen County War Memorial Coliseum

Records: R-MC 32-1, MC 29-3

How it Happened:

• Sophomore Will Coble (Charlotte, N.C./Davidson Day) hit a three-pointer to start the scoring for the Yellow Jackets. With the game tied at 5-5, Coble nailed a trey to spark a 17-0 run that was capped by a pair of triples by senior Ian Robertson (Lewes, Del./Cape Henlopen) as R-MC took a 22-5 lead with 13:40 left in the first half. Following a pair of free throws by the Pioneers, Robertson sank another three-pointer to give the Yellow Jackets a 25-7 advantage with 12:25 remaining. MC pulled with 12 before a jumper by senior DaQuan Morris (Philadelphia, Pa./Hill School) pushed the lead to 30-16 with 6:05 left. The Pioneers moved within 10 before a triple by Anthony and a layup by junior Miles Mallory (Beltsville, Md./St. Vincent Pallotti) on a pass from senior David Funderburg (Greensboro, N.C./Northwest Guilford) put R-MC up 36-21 with 2:40 remaining. The Pioneers used a 7-2 run to end the half as the Yellow Jackets led 38-28 at the half. Robertson led R-MC with 11 first-half points.
• MC scored the first four points of the second half before two buckets by Mallory started an 18-3 run, highlighted by a pair of treys by Robertson, as the Yellow Jackets took a 56-35 lead with 14:07 remaining. The Pioneers had the next four points before Mallory had a pair of three-point plays in a 6-2 spurt as R-MC took a 62-41 advantage with 10:14 left. Consecutive baskets by Mallory gave the Yellow Jackets a 68-46 lead with 6:45 remaining. The Pioneers would get no closer than 14 the rest of the way as R-MC posted the 81-63 victory.

By The Numbers:

• The Yellow Jackets had four score in double figures. Robertson had 22 points off the bench, while junior Josh Talbert (Virginia Beach, Va./Kellam) put up 18, Mallory added 17 and Anthony had 12.
• Robertson was 7 for 10 from the floor and 6 for 9 on three-pointers.
• R-MC shot 51% from the floor (31-61) and 46% on three-pointers (11-24).
• The Yellow Jacket defense held the Pioneers to 63 points, matching their lowest point total of the season. MC shot 33% from the floor (21-63) and 30% on treys (7-23).
• R-MC held a 39-35 advantage on the boards. Sophomore Daniel Mbangue (Fairfax, Va./Fairfax) had 10 and Mallory grabbed eight.

For The Record:

• R-MC will play for its first NCAA national championship in any sport. It will be the second trip to a title game for the men's basketball team. The Yellow Jackets lost to Chattanooga in the Division II title game in 1977.
• The Yellow Jackets extended the program record for wins in a season with 32. R-MC had won 28 in 2002-03, 2014-15 and 2019-20.
• R-MC has won 26 straight games and 49 of its past 50 contests. The Yellow Jackets broke the program record for consecutive victories. R-MC won 25 straight during the 2014-15 season.
• Over the past four seasons, R-MC is 99-7 overall (.934) and 49-2 in ODAC contests (.961).
• Mallory had two blocks to raise his season total to 87 and his career total to 186, both program records.
• Mallory had 17 points to become the 42nd Yellow Jacket to reach 1,000 career points. His total now stands at 1,005.
• Anthony had 12 points to give him 1,974 for his career, the third-highest total in program history.
• Anthony had 11 assists to give him 794 for his career, a program record.
• Anthony had one steal to give him 253 for his career, the most in program history.

Next Up:

Randolph-Macon will meet the winner of the Wabash/Elmhurst semifinal game on Saturday, March 19 at 6 p.m. in Fort Wayne, Ind. The game will be televised on CBS Sports Network as well as streamed on NCAA.com.