DANVILLE, Va. — After a tight first half, No. 2 Randolph-Macon College pulled away from Averett University men's basketball in the second half top win 86-48 in Old Dominion Athletic Conference play Wednesday night in the Grant Center.
 
Averett (8-12, 4-7 ODAC) went ahead 15-10 through the first 10 minutes thanks to back-to-back layups by senior Bryson McLaughlin. Randolph-Macon (18-1, 10-0 ODAC) charged back, going on a 15-2 to go ahead 25-17 with 6:16 left in the opening period. The Cougars got within four multiple times with in the next few minutes, but Randolph-Macon got a pair of free throws and buzzer-beating 3-pointer to give the defending national champion Yellow Jackets a 34-25 edge at halftime.

Randolph-Macon used a strong start to the second half to seize momentum. The Yellow Jackets' offense caught fire, outscoring Averett 19-4 over the first eight minutes of the period on their way to their 10th ODAC win.

Randolph-Macon shot 61 percent for the game. Josh Talbert scored 16 of his game-high 26 points in the first half, while Lance Johnson netted all 18 of his points in the second half. Averett's defense, however, limited Randolph-Macon's leading scorer and rebounder — at 15.8 points and 9.7 boards a game — to only six points and two rebounds.

Averett was led by senior Miles Pauldin and sophomore Bryce Shaw, who each scored eight points. Junior Jason Sellars II added seven points. Junior Fermin Borbua-Watson and redshirt sophomore Jem Lowrance each grabbed five rebounds for the Cougars.

Averett returns to action on Saturday when the Cougars host ODAC foe Randolph College at 2 p.m. in the Grant Center.
 
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