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Jason Rutschman nets game-high 19 points
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Lynchburg, VA -- In a tough defensive game, Randolph College held cross-town rival Lynchburg College to 26.3 percent shooting from the floor, and junior guard Jason Rutschman added the offensive firepower as the WildCats posted a 63-50 ODAC win Wednesday night.
With the win Randolph improves to 6-17 overall and 3-12 in ODAC play. Lynchburg slips to 3-21 overall and 1-14 in conference games.
Randolph came out strong leading 14-6 with 8:36 left in the first half after a Malcolm Nelson jumper. The WildCats would increase their lead to 10 points at 21-11 after Rutschman would cash in twice at the foul line at the 4:11 mark. Three straight free throws from Timothy Clarke gave Randolph a 28-14 halftime lead. The WildCats defense stifled the Hornets attack, as Lynchburg shot only 15.8 percent (3-19) from the field in the first half.
In the second stanza, Randolph would build its lead to 21 points at 35-14 with 17:19 remaining after a deep trey from Rutschman and two free throws from Derrick Woods-Morrow. The WildCats defense continued to give Lynchburg problems, forcing the Hornets into contested shots and turnovers. Lynchburg would try one last effort to mount a comeback as Mason Wooldridge scored in the paint cutting the WildCat lead to 59-47 with just under a minute left. Randolph would calmly sink four free throws in the final fifty seconds to post the home ODAC victory.
Although the WildCats defensive pressure paid dividends in the win, Randolph also held a huge advantage on the boards outrebounding Lynchburg 52-32 (14 offensive). Rutschman went 5-12 from the floor and canned three treys on way to his game-high 19 points. Clarke added 16 points and five assists. Woods-Morrow recorded his ninth double-double with 11 points and 11 rebounds. Jimmy Greene enjoyed his best game this season, notching a career-high 16 boards in the conference win.
KC Mendez was the only Hornet to reach double figures, finishing with 15 points and four rebounds.
Randolph will close out the regular season at Guilford College Saturday at 2:00 p.m. The WildCats will then enter the ODAC post-season tournament early next week against an opponent to be determined.
CONTACT: Vince Scalzo, Sports Information Director
