The fifth ranked University of Mary Washington men's basketball team defeated Amherst College, 81-64, on Saturday night in the second round of the NCAA Tournament at Ron Rosner Arena. The Eagles used a pivotal 32-5 run early in the second half to improve to 26-3 on the season.

In the first half, the teams traded baskets and the lead, with 11 lead changes and three ties in the opening 12 minutes. Amherst first gained a multiple possession lead, 24-18, with 6:04 left in the first on a 7-0 run, with a pair of three point baskets and a free throw.

A three pointer from junior Jadon Burgess trimmed the margin to 27-25 with 4:44 left in the half, and a layup from junior Kay Randall put the Eagles back ahead, 28-27, with 2:49 to go. The lead changed hands four more times in the closing minutes, with Amherst connecting on a pair of free throws with 1.7 seconds left to take a 34-33 edge to halftime.

The Mammoths started the second half with a banked in three point shot, but junior Kaden Bates answered with another three, and after an Amherst layup, the Eagles offense and defense stepped up.

Sophomore Ulysses Young kickstarted a 13-0 run with a three pointer, as part of eight points in the run, with sophomore Kye Robinson adding five. After a pair of Mammoth free throws, junior Hasan Hammad hit a three pointer, and Robinson added another basket to swell the lead to 13, at 54-41 with 13:10 left in the game. Baskets from Hammad, junior Jay Randall, Bates, and Young put the Eagles up, 21, at 65-44, with 8:45 on the scoreboard.

Meanwhile the Mammoths, who shot well, particularly from three point range, in the first half, struggled from the floor, going 3-22 from the field during one span. A pair of baskets from freshman Josh Seworder and another Robinson basket swelled the lead to 27 with 5:25 remaining. Amherst continued to battle, with a 9-0 run of their own to pull to within 72-56, but the Eagles were able to answer several late Mammoth baskets to keep the lead.

Robinson led all scorers with 22 points on 8-16 shooting from the floor, and Young poured in 19 points, making 5-6 three point attempts. Randall shot 5-7 in gaining a double-double with 12 points and 11 rebounds. Bates scored nine, Burgess eight, and Hammad six in a balanced effort.

The Eagles shot 53.7% from the field, making 8-18 three point attempts, including 6-9 in the second half. Amherst shot 35.1% (20-57), with 12-34 three point attempt accuracy. The Eagles led in rebounding, 40-28.

Mary Washington will advance to the third round of the NCAA Tournament for the second straight year, and will host the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse next weekend, with the winner advancing to the national quarterfinals in Fort Wayne, Indiana. Dates and times are yet to be announced by the NCAA.