The University of Mary Washington men's basketball team dropped a 68-49 decision to Randolph College on Saturday at the Anderson Center. Senior Taylor Johnson led all scorers with 18 points, and added 11 rebounds.
The Wildcats used blistering shooting from the field in the victory, shooting 51.1% from the field, including 12-22 in the first half. It was the Eagles took took the early lead, as Johnson hit a three pointer, and Brent Mahoney hit a three pointer and layin, with Eric Shaw adding a basket as UMW jumped ahead, 10-2, with 15:37 remaining in the first half.
The Eagles held the lead for the next five minutes, but back to back three pointers from Corey Brown gave the Wildcats the lead at 19-17 with 10:03 left. A pair of Shaw free throws cut the deficit to two at 21-19, but five straight points pushed Randolph's first half lead to seven, their largest of the frame.
A three pointer from Miguel Kissoon and putback from Johnson cut the deficit back to two, at 26-24, but the Wilcats finished the half on a 6-2 spurt, and took a 32-26 lead into halftime.
Four straight Randolph points upped their lead to 10, at 36-26, with 18:54 remaining in the second. Johnson and Mahoney hit three pointers to cut the deficit to 38-34, but Randolph answered with eight straight points to take a 46-34 lead with 13:14 left.
Randolph was successful in running down the shot clock in the final minutes, and made 7-10 free throws in extending the final to 68-49.
Randolph shot 51.1% from the field (24-47), making 6-14 three pointers, and went 14-21 from the free throw line. The Eagles shot just 26.8% from the field (15-56), making 7-30 three pointers and 12-18 free throws. UMW held a 37-35 rebounding edge.
Johnson led UMW with 18 points on 5-16 shooting, including three three pointers, and added eleven rebounds (5 offensive). Curtis Rowser III added 11 points off the bench for UMW. Randolph was led by Zach Desgain's 17 points and eight rebounds.
The Eagles will return to action on January 3, 2015, when they host Marymount University at 3:00 p.m. at the Anderson Center in Capital Athletic Conference action.