Central Shenandoah News

Men's Hoops Takes Down Randolph

 The Bridgewater College men's basketball team shot over 50 percent from the field in the second half in a 81-76 comeback victory against Randolph on Saturday afternoon.

THE BASICS

Final Score: Bridgewater 81, Randolph 76

Records: 12-11, 7-7 ODAC; 5-19, 1-13 ODAC

HOW IT HAPPENED

• A Liam Caswell three and a layup from Andy Pack gave Bridgewater an early 5-0 lead just over a minute into the game. The next five points went to the WildCats to tie the game with 16 minutes left in the half. Back-to-back triples from the Eagles - both from Landon Hawes - guided the Eagles to a four-point lead at 11-7 heading into the first media stoppage.  
• Out of the under-14 both teams traded scores over the next several minutes as the game stayed close. Randolph took its first lead of the game off a Jordan Phillips-McLoyd jumper, 18-17, with 6:38 on the clock. Shod Smith matched it with a layup to retake the lead, but a 12-5 run by the WildCats over the remainder of the half gave the home side a 30-27 lead at the recess.
• Caswell also kicked off the second half with a trey, which tied the game at 30-30 in the opening minute of the final 20 minutes. Each team traded baskets before Randolph started pulling away and held a five-point lead after a floater from Danny Bickey was true with sides exchanged threes before the under-14 stoppage. 
• Smith took over in the game's final 10 minutes as he hit a three-pointer with 10:07 left to trim the deficit down to one point and followed the WildCats' next possession with another three to give the Eagles the lead once again at 52-51 with nine minutes left in regulation. Randolph retook the lead after another three and added another layup, but Smith hit his third trey in under three minutes to tie the game at 56-56. Smith then added a free throw to put the Eagles back in front that was short lived.
• Aaron Oates drove the lane for a layup which pushed BC up 59-58 followed by an Alec Topper dunk gave the vistiors a three-point edge. With neither side backing down, the WildCats again took a lead at 63-61, but Smith reached the 20-point plateau for the game with his fourth three of the half off a Caswell dish to give BC a 64-63 lead with 4:58 left in the game.
• A pair of free throws from RC gave the home team the lead once again, but Topper drilled a jumper for BC to once again take the lead. After a timeout, Pack hit a layup to increase the lead to three points. Randolph made two free throws and Bickey nailed a three as the WildCats went ahead 70-68 with just two minutes to go. 
• Pack dropped in a layup with 90 seconds to go to tie the game at 70-70 and followed that with a huge three-pointer with 50 seconds left. Oates added in a layup at the 30 second mark and completed a three-point play to make the score 76-70 and put the game out of reach as the Eagles went on to take an 81-76 victory.

GAME FACTS 

• Smith finished with a team-high 22 points on 6-of-13 shooting from the floor including 5-of-9 from long range. He also tallied seven assists and three rebounds.
• Topper finished with yet another double double as he posted 18 points and 10 rebounds to go along with five assists.
• Caswell and Pack each scored 13 points, while Caswell grabbed seven boards. 
• Oates dropped in seven points and snagged eight rebounds.
• For Randolph, Jerry Goodman had a game-high 23 points, while Bickey finished with 17 of his own. Cole Perry led the team with nine boards, while Will Jamison grabbed eight rebounds. 
• The Eagles shot 43.9 percent in the game, including over 50 percent from the floor in the second half. BC also outrebounded the opposition by a 40-33 margin.

UP NEXT

Bridgewater is back in action on Wednesday as it hits the road to face Shenandoah. Tip is set for 6 pm.

Original source can be found here