| Will Coble scored a career-high 26 points and No. 1 Randolph-Macon keeps its 29-game winning streak in tact. Randolph-Macon athletics file photo |
No. 1 Randolph-Macon survived Hood’s upset bid by outlasting the Blazers in 80-78 triple overtime, while No. 11 Rochester’s three-point barrage sent No. 18 Trinity (Texas) back to San Antonio with a loss, and No. 21 Illinois Wesleyan spoiled Yeshiva’s trip to the Midwest in Saturday’s Division III men’s basketball action.
After Hood took a 29-20 halftime lead at home over Randolph-Macon, the defending national champions rallied past the Blazers, 54-50, with 2:25 to play in regulation. The Blazers pulled even at 54 and both teams converted two free throws in the final 10 seconds to force the first overtime.
Randolph-Macon took a three-point lead with 13 seconds left in that first extra period, but Hood’s Will Pataki drained a three at the buzzer, tying the game at 63 and forcing the second overtime. The Blazers built a five-point lead in that extra period, only to see Randolph-Macon’s Will Coble nail a three and tie the game at 69 with 34 seconds left and force a third overtime.
In that period, Vincent Payne made two free throws to give the Yellow Jackets a three-point advantage with nine seconds left. Christopher Smalls’ layup pulled Hood within one, but freshman Keishawn Pulley split two free throws to give Randolph-Macon the 80-78 win. Game recap
Coble finished with a career-high 26 points and Pulley posted 20 points for Randolph-Macon (2-0). Smalls and Pataki scored 18 each for Hood (1-1).
No. 18 Rochester hit eight 3-pointers in the first half and held off No. 11 Trinity (Texas) in the second half for a 78-63 win in the men’s finale of Rochester’s Chuck Resler Tournament. Ross Gang got the three-point party started for the Yellowjackets with a triple 18 seconds into the game. After Gang hit another three with 1:16 left in the first half, Rochester held a 42-28 lead.
Rochester cooled off in the second half, allowing the Tigers to get as close as 48-40 on Ben Hanley’s layup three minutes into the second half. But the Yellowjackets pushed the lead back to 16 midway through the period and led comfortably the rest of the way.
All-American Ryan Algier led Rochester (3-0) with 20 points on 9-for-16 shooting.
Yeshiva made the long trip from New York City to Bloomington, Illinois and pushed No. 21 Illinois Wesleyan before falling at the Shirk Center, 75-71. Ryan Seroka made four three throws in the final minute to preserve the Titans’ victory and overcome a stellar performance from Zevi Samet. The Maccabees sophomore guard scored 38 points on 15-for-19 shooting, including eight 3-pointers. The Titans only had five 3-pointers as a team but outscored Yeshiva 15-0 at the foul line.
The NESCAC went 5-1 out of conference, headlined by No. 22 Wesleyan battling past Haverford 83-74 in overtime. Haverford hung tough despite the Cardinals posting a 51-9 advantage in bench scoring before Wesleyan pulled away for the season-opening victory. Tufts edged Emerson 80-78 in overtime, Trinity (Conn.) rolled over Nichols, 74-55, and Tim Sweeney got his 100th career win as Connecticut College defeated Westfield State, 73-65. Swarthmore spoiled the NESCAC’s bid for a perfect Saturday by defeating Bowdoin, 90-68.
Ahkee Anderson scored 21 points and No. 5 Oswego State defeated Eastern Connecticut 60-50 in the Warriors’ tip-off tournament. Anderson shot 7 for 14 from the field and Jeremiah Sparks added a double-double for the Lakers (2-0). The victory makes Jason Leone the winningest coach in Oswego State men’s basketball history, giving him 210 wins in 12 seasons.
No. 25 St. John’s bounced back from its opening night loss and tipped UW-Eau Claire, 71-70, in double overtime. Brock Voigt’s layup pulled UW-Eau Claire even with the Johnnies at 61-all with 38 seconds to play in regulation. After the teams combined for four points in the first overtime, the Johnnies got back-to-back threes from Kooper Vaughn and Zach Longueville and took a 71-68 lead. Voight scored again with 19 seconds left to pull the Blugolds within one at 71-70 but, after the Johnnies missed the front end of a one-and-one, Eau Claire missed its shot at the buzzer.