FREDERICK, Md. – Senior Josh Talbert (Virginia Beach, Va./Kellam) lead all scorers with 16 points, one of four Yellow Jackets in double figures, as the top-ranked Randolph-Macon men's basketball team opened defense of its national championship with a 71-49 victory over Mary Baldwin Friday evening in the opening round of the Hood Tip-Off Tournament.

The Basics:

Score: Randolph-Macon 71, Mary Baldwin 49

Venue: Ronald J. Volpe Athletic Center

Records: R-MC 1-0, MBU 0-1

How it Happened:

• A layup by junior Daniel Mbangue (Fairfax, Va./Fairfax) started the scoring and a pair of layups by Talbert gave the Yellow Jackets a quick 6-0 lead one minute into the contest. The Fighting Squirrels closed within one at 14-13 before a layup and three-pointer by freshman Keishawn Pulley Jr. (Louisa, Va./St. Christopher's) sparked a 32-7 run through the remainder of the first half that was capped by a triple from junior Will Coble (Charlotte, N.C./Davidson Day) as R-MC took a 46-20 lead at the half. Talbert had a dozen points in the first half, while Pulley added 10. Mbangue had 10 points and eight rebounds.
• MBU had the first bucket of the second half before a layup by senior Miles Mallory (Beltsville, Md./St. Vincent Pallotti) and two by Talbert pushed the lead to 30 at 52-22 with 16:25 left in the contest. The Squirrels used a 14-2 spurt to cut the deficit to 18 before a layup by Mbangue extended the lead back to 20 at 56-36 midway through the second period. MBU hit a three-pointer before junior Lance Johnson (South Riding, Va./Freedom) nailed a trey to make it 59-39 with 7:45 remaining. In the final four minutes, four freshmen scored their first collegiate points as Kyle Keener (Canton, Ga./Sequoyah) hit two free throws and Bryce Scott (Charlotte, N.C./Providence Day), Bryce Sewell (Bowie, Md./Georgetown Prep) and Liam Joyce (Allentown, Pa./Allentown Central Catholic) all made layups to make the final 71-49.

By The Numbers:

• The Yellow Jackets had four score in double figures. Talbert had 16 points, Mallory scored 14, Mbangue tallied 12 and Pulley had 10 off the bench.
• R-MC's starters made 24 of 36 shots from the floor for 66.7%.
• Mbangue just missed a double-double with 12 points and nine rebounds.
• Keener paced the Yellow Jackets with four assists.
• Mbangue had three of R-MC's 11 steals.

Next Up:

Randolph-Macon will meet host Hood in the championship game of the Hood Tipoff Tournament on Saturday, Nov. 12 at 3 p.m.