The University of Mary Washington men's basketball team used a balanced team effort to upset previously undefeated #4 Randolph-Macon College, 70-65, on Wednesday evening in Rosner Arena. The Eagles defeat a top five team for the first time since the 2017-2018 season, when they defeated #4 York College (Pa.).
The Eagles built an early 7-3 lead in the opening four minutes, led by three-point baskets from junior guard Anias Saunders and freshman forward Trey Barber. The Yellow Jackets cut the deficit to 9-8 on a three-pointer with 12:35 left, and grabbed the lead at 15-13 with 10:37 to play. A pair of RMC three pointers upped their lead to eight, before a Da'Shawn Cook layup and three pointer and layup from Barber returned the margin to one, at 21-10 with 5:50 remaining.
The Jackets extended the margin to six, but triples from sophomore Greg Rowson and junior Riley Welch knotted the score at 30-30 with 1:57 to play. The Jackets scored five straight, and held a 38-32 advantage at intermission.
Randolph-Macon extended the lead to 10 over the first six minutes of the second, but Rowson and junior Drew Johnson connected for threes to pull the Eagles back to within four, 50-46, with 10:40 on the clock. Another three from Welch cut the margin to one, and a pair of Saunders free throws gave the Eagles their first lead of the second half with 9:11 to go.
The lead switched hands three times in the next three possessions, before a three from Barber knotted the score at 56-56. Cook and Barber connected for layups in the next few possessions, giving UMW a 60-56 advantage with 4:13 left. RMC drew to within one, but a three point play from Barber upped UMW's lead back to four with 3:09 to go.
After four Yellow Jacket free throws tied the score, Johnson made a layup with 1:50 left to regain the lead, and a Rowson free throw extended the margin to three with a free throw with 13 seconds left. Johnson made a pair of free throws with 1.7 seconds left to put the margin out of reach, giving the Eagles a big victory.
Barber led the Eagles with 15 points on 5-7 shooting, and tied for team honors with seven rebounds. Rowson scored 13, with Johnson adding 12 and Welch 10.
The Eagles shot 39.6% from the floor (21-53), making 10-32 three point attempts and 18-21 free throws. Randolph-Macon shot 33.9% (20-59), making 10-37 three point tries and 15-18 free throws. RMC held a 40-37 edge in rebounds.
UMW will return to action on Saturday when they host St. Mary's College (Md.) in the Capital Athletic Conference opener at 3 p.m.