Cook, Cronin Each Score 17 Points to Lead UMW Men’s Basketball Past Randolph, 75-66, on Sunday Afternoon

Cook, Cronin Each Score 17 Points to Lead UMW Men’s Basketball Past Randolph, 75-66, on Sunday Afternoon

Freshman Da'Shawn Cook and senior Johnny Cronin each scored 17 points to lead the University of Mary Washington men's basketball team past Randolph College, 75-66, as part of the Wayne Proffitt Classic on Sunday afternoon in Lynchburg, VA. The Eagles improve to 4-2 on the season. 

In the early going, the Eagles got out to a 4-0 lead thanks to layups by Greg Rowson and Cronin. Jacob Williams put UMW up five, 9-4, as he drained a three-pointer with 15:31 to play. Cook scored his first points of the game with 11:14 remaining that kept the Eagles up three, 13-10.

Cook added another layup a minute later to extend the lead to five, 17-12. Randolph then scored nine straight points to take the lead 21-17 with 8:17 to play. Tyler Withers completed three-point play the old fashioned way with 7:25 remaining to tie the game up at 23 a piece. 

Mark Madison made a jump shot to put the Eagles ahead 27-25 with just 3:41 left. The Wildcats ended the half on an 8-3 run and took a 33-30 lead into the second half.

Cook hit a three-pointer just 11 seconds into the second half to tie the game at 33. The Wildcats took a four points lead, 39-35, over the first 2:07. Jordan Shaw came off the bench and hit a three-pointer with 14:48 to give UMW their first lead of the second half 43-42. 

Cronin made back-to-back layups with 11:37 left to extend the Eagles' lead to six, 49-43. The Wildcats then went on an 9-1 run and regained the lead 52-50. The game of runs continued as the Eagles then went on a 10-0 run to give them an eight point lead, 60-52, with 6:16 to play. 

Randolph then got within three, 62-59, on a made free throw with 4:28 to play. With 2:02 remaining, Cronin gave the Eagles their largest lead of the game 69-60. From there, the Eagles converted their free throws and closed out the game to win 75-66.

The Eagles saw 11 different players score in the game. Rowson scored nine points, while Madison and Riley Welch each added six. 

UMW shot 28-63 (44.4%) from the field and went 13-18 (72.2%) from the free throw line. The Eagles out-rebounded the Wildcats 40-36 and dished out 13 assists as a team.

UMW will be back in action on Wednesday as they will travel to Virginia Wesleyan at 7:30 p.m.