HAMPDEN-SYDNEY, VA – Hampden-Sydney Basketball nearly came back to beat Randolph-Macon, but the Yellow Jackets scored nine of the game's last 12 points to hold off the Tigers 69-60 on Wednesday.

The two teams came out on fire to start the game with the score knotted at 11-11 five minutes in. Randolph-Macon pulled ahead on the next possession, but the Tigers were nearly matching them point-for-point, trailing just 18-15 at the 8:29 mark. Andre Simon scored the next five points as R-MC surged ahead 23-15 to take control of the game. After a Stephen Vassor (Roanoke Rapids, NC / Brunswick) layup made it a 25-19 game, Connor Sullivan and Joe Hassell scored six of the half's last eight points to lead 31-21 at the half.

The Tigers came out from intermission with their offense clicking, scoring a layup on their first three possessions to trim the deficit to 33-27, but a Hassell bucket and free throw put the lead back up to nine, 36-27, four minutes in. The Yellow Jackets continued to lead between 6-9 points until a Greg Lewis (Mechanicsville, VA / Hanover) three-pointer put the game at 45-40 with 10:38 left.

However, Simon negated the triple with a layup and free throw just 11 seconds later to continue to give the Yellow Jackets a 6-9 point lead until back-to-back JaVonte Reddick (Richmond, VA / L.C. Bird) three pointers made it a 58-55 Randolph-Macon advantage with 4:45 to go.

It remained a three-point game a minute later, but four straight Hassell points pushed the lead back out to seven, 64-57, with 2:03 to go. The Tigers would turn over the ball at the 1:27 mark, but a Simon missed jumper followed by a rebounding foul put the Tigers at the line for two with 51 ticks on the clock. Lewis made one of two, and two Sullivan free throws at the 37-second mark sealed the game.

Khobi Williamson (Norfolk, VA / Maury) posted a game-high 16 points with eight rebounds while Mike Murray (Norfolk, VA / Norfolk Christian) and Lewis each chipped in 10 points. Vassor came off the bench to grab a game-high 10 rebounds while also scoring eight points, and Reddick added on eight points as well.

Simon led the Yellow Jackets with 16 points and also added on five rebounds, three assists, and three steals. Sullivan scored 14 while Hassell posted 13 points, and Akeem Holmes scored seven points with a team-high nine rebounds.

Neither team shot well from the floor with Macon making 42% of their shots compared to a 38.6% performance from the Tigers. The free throw line proved to be a big factor as R-MC shot 24-33 compared to just a 12-17 H-SC mark. Hampden-Sydney held a 37-32 rebounding advantage, but Randolph-Macon outscored H-SC 16-7 in second chance points. The Tigers negated that by converting turnovers into points, outgaining the Yellow Jackets 13-3 in points off turnovers.

Hampden-Sydney travels to Emory & Henry College on Saturday for a 2 pm contest.