MEN'S BASKETBALL: Randolph-Macon ends Royals' season
Mar. 5—The University of Scranton men's basketball team found out the hard way Saturday why Randolph-Macon College is the defending NCAA Division III champion.
Three players scored in double figures and the Yellowjackets held the Royals to their lowest point total in a NCAA tournament game in a 63-41 victory at Crenshaw Gymnasium in Ashland, Virginia.
Daniel Mbangue scored 16 points, Miles Mallory had 15 points, 10 rebounds and four blocks and Jabril Robinson added 10 points for top-ranked Randolph-Macon (29-1), which advances to the Sweet 16 where it will face Oswego State, a 66-61 winner over John Carroll.
Defensively, the Yellowjackets held Scranton to 32.6 percent from the field (15 for 46), including just 3 of 17 from 3-point range. As a result, the Royals' 41 points are their fewest in the NCAA history, surpassing the 45 they scored in a loss to William Paterson in 2006.
Jackson Danzig, playing his final game in purple and white, finished with 11 points as Scranton's season ends at 21-8.
Things started well for the Royals as two Danzig 3-pointers game them a 6-2 lead four minutes in. But they would go scoreless for the next five minutes, allowing Randolph Macon to score 11 straight points to open a 13-6 lead.
Baskets by E.J. Matthews-Spratley and Jon Spatola sandwiched around a 3-pointer by Robinson cut the deficit to 16-10 with 9:11 left in the first half.
However, the Royals would scored only four points the rest of the half, missing 16 of 20 shots and committing six turnovers. The Yellowjackets closed on a 14-4 run to take a 30-14 halftime lead.
Scranton shot 6 for 26 (23.1 percent) from the field in the first half, including 2 of 11 from 3-point range. They also committed seven turnovers.
Will McLoughlin opened the second half with consecutive baskets to bring the Royals within 12. But Randolph-Macon responded with another 14-4 run to build a 44-22 advantage with 10:16 left.
Randolph-Macon's largest lead was 61-31 following a Mbangue free throw with 3:17 remaining.
The Yellowjackets outrebounded the Royals, 39-24.
Also, they extended their Division III record for consecutive home wins to 64 games.
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