HAMPDEN-SYDNEY, VA – Mike Murray's (Norfolk, VA / Norfolk Christian) layup with five seconds remaining lifted Hampden-Sydney Basketball to a 59-57 win over Randolph College in ODAC action on Wednesday night.

The Tigers got off to a great start, leading 14-5 with 13:44 remaining in the half, but that would be the biggest lead either team would have the rest of the game. Randolph gradually chipped away at the lead, cutting the deficit down to two, 16-14, with 10:22 to go. H-SC continued to lead by four or fewer points until a 7-2 spurt in under three minutes put Randolph on top 24-23 at the 2:47 mark and a Seth Wimbish midrange jumper put them ahead by three with two minutes left. A Greg Lewis (Mechanicsville, VA / Hanover) three pointer with 43 seconds to go made it a tie ball game at 28-28 going into intermission.

Randolph established themselves early out of halftime, scoring the first five to grab a five-point lead two minutes in. A Mitch Owens layup and two jumpers from Guilherme Guimarães (Ribeirão Preto, Brazil / Miller School (VA)) put the Tigers back out in front by one, 36-35, at 14:11. It was a back and forth affair over the next three minutes, but Randolph scored six straight points and held H-SC without a score over three minutes to go out in front by seven, 49-42, with eight minutes remaining.

The Tigers offense started roaring from there, scoring 11 of the next 13 points, taking the lead at 53-50 with 3:03 left on the clock when Jake Duncan (Williamsburg, VA / Williamsburg Christian) stole the ball and got fouled in the bonus in transition, making both free throw attempts. Zach Desgain tied the game on two free throws on the next possession, but Murray made two of his own when the Tigers got the ball back, making it a 55-53 H-SC lead at 2:39. Corey Brown tied the game as he grabbed the rebound on his own missed shot and put it back in at 1:22, but a Lewis jumper regained the two-point advantage for H-SC at 1:07. Desgain stepped up with a tough two-point jumper to retie the game with 34 seconds left, giving H-SC the chance at the last shot.

Hampden-Sydney called a timeout to draw up a play, and the ball ended up in Murray's hands with the game clock winding down. He drove in from the right wing and finished a difficult reverse layup on the left side of the hoop and was fouled on the shot. He missed the free throw, and Gordon Rogo grabbed the board as Randolph immediately called for a timeout. The Tigers had a foul to give before going into the bonus and committed it with 2.5 seconds on the clock. Randolph inbounded the ball to Desgain who had to force up a three pointer from beyond halfcourt that came up short and wide left.

Murray posted game highs of 14 points, nine rebounds, and three assists with no turnovers. He shot 4-8 overall, 2-4 from three, and 4-5 from the foul line. Mitch Owens (Williamsburg, VA / Walsingham) tallied 12 points and eight boards, and Guimarães posted 10 points and seven rebounds with eight points in the second half. Lewis added on 12 points, shooting 5-7 from the floor and making both three attempts.

Desgain had team highs of 13 points and three assists to go with six caroms. Jason Eddie scored 10 and grabbed a team-high eight boards. Brown added 10 points.

Randolph outshot H-SC 46.9% to 37.9% overall as well as going 6-20 compared to 5-21 for H-SC from beyond the arc. However, the Tigers had a five-point advantage at the charity stripe as H-SC shot 10-13 while Randolph was 5-7. Hampden-Sydney outrebounded Randolph 36-29 and held an 8-4 advantage in second chance points.

Hamdpen-Sydney travels to Bridgewater College on Saturday for a 4:30 pm ODAC game.