The top-ranked University of Mary Washington men's basketball team opened its home schedule with a 77-59 victory over seventh-ranked Randolph-Macon College on Saturday night before 1600 fans at Ron Rosner Arena. The Eagles improve to 3-0 on the season, and run their school-record win streak to 15.
Mary Washington started the game swiftly, outscoring the Yellow Jackets, 7-2, in the opening 1:49, thanks to baskets from junior guards
Kye Robinson and
Ulysses Young, and a three point play from sophomore
Preston White. The lead swelled to seven thanks to four points from Robinson, and, after RMC had closed to within 11-8, back-to-back three pointers from senior
Kaden Bates kickstarted an 11-0 run, with Young adding another triple. UMW led, 22-11, with 9:46 left in the first.
The Yellow Jackets then scored eight straight, but again the Eagles held the lead, until the score stood tied at 24-24 with 5:24 remaining. The next 4:23 was the pivotal stretch of the game, as the Eagles answered with a 14-0 run, keyed by seven points from Randall and another three from Bates. A three from Young at the first half buzzer gave UMW a 16-point margin at the intermission, 43-27.
A three pointer from sophomore Josh Seworder pushed the Eagle lead to 50-30 with 17:56 left, and the lead moved back and forth between 14-20 points until a pair of Bates free throws with 3:50 left gave UMW a 74-52 advantage. The Yellow Jackets scored the final basket to pull to within 77-59 at the final horn.
The Eagles shot 51.1% from the floor 24-47), making 10-23 three point attempts, and connected on 19-25 free throws. Randolph-Macon shot 32.8% (20-61), making 9-27 three point tries and 10-14 free throws. RMC held a 38-33 edge in rebounding.
Robinson led UMW with 25 points on 7-15 shooting form the floor and 10-12 from the free throw line. Seworder scored 13 off the bench, making 4-6 shots, including 3-4 three point attempts. Bates and Randall each scored 11, and Young added 10 as the fifth Eagle in double figures. Randall and Robinson each had seven rebounds, while Bates and Young each grabbed five. Bates and Young each had five assists.
The Eagles will return to action on Wednesday night when they visit Eastern Mennonite University at 7:00 p.m.
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