LYNCHBURG, Va. - Two games in 2022, two wins. 

This time, the Royals traveled down to Lynchburg and took down Randolph, 79-72. The win was EMU's second on the road this season and moved them to 5-6 overall, 3-1 in the ODAC. 

Highlights

• After Randolph got on the board to start the game, Aviwe Mahlong scored the Royals first points of the game to tie things at two. The teams traded points for the next few minutes until the WildCats took a four point lead, 13-9, at the 15:18 mark. Mizz Nyagwegwe and Mark Burkholder sandwiched a Randoph basket, to pull EMU within one before Julien Hagerman gave the Royals a lead with his first points. 
• RC scored eight of the next 10 to go up 25-18 but four straight from Michael Watlington and three straight from Nyagwegwe tied the game again at 25. After Randolph took another lead, Mahlong drilled back to back threes to put EMU ahead 31-27. The WildCats answered with five in a row but a basket and-one from Mahlong put the Royals back ahead. Randolph tied things at 34 but Hagerman hit a three with 33 seconds left to give EMU a three-point halftime lead. 
• Trailing 34-37 at the break, the WildCats came out and went on a 14-3 run to start the second, pulling ahead 48-40. But Mahlong hit another three and Tim Jones made two layups to bring EMU back within one. A Watlington dunk and layup put the Royals back on top before Jones made another pair of layups along with a Nyagwegwe basket to give EMU a 57-48 lead at 11:44 left. 
• The teams traded points until with, EMU leading 59-50, Randolph reeled off 12 straight to take a lead. Burkholder wasn't about to let them keep a lead, nailing a three to tie things again, this time at 62. Randolph hit another three to pull ahead 65-62. The lead changed hands five more times, with Jones giving EMU a 71-70 lead that wouldn't be relinquished. With 2:01 left, Mahlong hit a three and Landon Swingler hit a big freethrow to put EMU ahead 75-70 and ice the game. 
• Mahlong finished with a game, and career-high 26 points on 9-12 shooting, including 5-8 from three. Jones finished with 19 points, leaving him one shy of 1,000 for his career. He also dished out six assists. Burkholder added 11 with eight rebounds while Watlington chipped in eight. 

By the Numbers

• 100% - Mahlong was a perfect 6-6, including 3-3 from three, from the field in the first half, to pace the team with 16 points at the half. 
• 2 - This is the second game this season the Royals have shot over 50% from the field. They also shot over 50% (52.9) in the win over Shenandoah. 

Words from Coach Felix

"I am really proud of the way we played today. We showed toughness and grit in one of the toughest places to win in the ODAC. Vee (Mahlong) had a big game for us. Not only did he shoot the ball well, he rebouded and shared the ball, and was active on the defensive end. His energy kept up going when we were struggling at points." 

What's Next

Jones will look to pick up his 1,000th point and the Royals will look to pick up the big upset when EMU travels to Ashland on Tuesday. They'll face off with #1 nationally-ranked Randolph-Macon. Tipoff is scheduled for 7 pm. 

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