HARTFORD, Ct. – Calvin advanced to the national quarterfinals for the first time since 2005 and for the seventh time in program history with a convincing 72-59 victory over No. 4 Randolph-Macon College Friday night on the campus of Trinity College.
Calvin will face host Trinity College in the national quarterfinals Saturday night at 7:45 p.m. (EST).
Sophomore Jalen Overway poured in 29 points including 18 in the first half to lead the Knights to the win. Calvin led 37-25 at halftime before the Yellow Jackets made a second half surge to close to within four at 50-46.
Calvin answered with eight unanswered points to lead 58-46 and kept RMC at bay the rest of the way.
The Yellow Jackets got within seven at 62-55 but a transition layup by Overway and a baseline dunk by sophomore Owen Varnado gave Calvin a 66-55 lead with 2:59 left.
RMC closed to within seven at 66-59 on a three-pointer by senior Daniel Mbangue but Calvin answered with a clutch triple of its own as sophomore Luka Ressler drained a triple from the left wing with 1:44 remaining to put the Knights up 10. Ressler followed with three points inside the final minute to seal the win.
Randolph-Macon switched to a zone defense for portions of the first and second half but the Knights were able to find seams with quick passes and breaks to the basket.
Overway's 29 points came on 12 of 20 shooting to go with 12 rebounds as he notched his 16th double-double of the season including the 29th of his career. Senior Uchenna Egekeze had another outstanding night, scoring 15 points including nine in the first half while grabbing eight rebounds, dishing out six assists, collecting two steals and blocking one shot. Ressler had eight points while senior Marcus Bult had seven points and seven boards and junior Trip Riemersma seven points as well.
Randolph-Macon was led in scoring Mbangue who scored 16 points to go with six boards and three assists. Malcom Hodges had 12 points and Lance Johnson 11 points.
Randolph-Macon shot 40.3 percent from the field (25 of 62) but just 16.7 percent (3 of 18) from three-point range. RMC was 6 of 10 (.600) at the free throw line.
Calvin connected on 27 of 52 attempts from the floor for a 51.9 percent clip. The Knights were 14 of 18 at the free throw line (.800) and 4 of 19 (.211) from three-point range.