ASHLAND, Va. -- Randolph-Macon College's Yellow Jackets withstood a closing 10-0 run by the No. 3 Virginia Wesleyan College Marlins on Wednesday to post a 54-51 Old Dominion Athletic Conference victory in Crenshaw Gymnasium.

The loss evened the regular season series between the teams as VWC posted a 63-60 win over R-MC in November.  VWC remains in first place in the ODAC with a 10-2 record, a game in front of R-MC which improves its conference record to 11-3.

Randolph-Macon (18-4) wiped out a 39-36 Virginia Wesleyan lead in the second half with a 16-2 run to move in front 52-41 with 4:15 remaining to be played.  Calvin Croskey (Manassas, Va./Osbourn Park) and Jamie Robinson (Gainesville, Va./Battlefield) hit timely triples in the run to catapult the Jackets into their largest lead of the game.

But, it was far from over.

Virginia Wesleyan (18-3) came back quickly, following the lead of senior Donald Vaughn (Woodbridge, Va./Dumfries Potomac), who scored six consecutive points to key the Marlins' 10-0 run.  Scores by Tre' Ford (Falls Church, Va./J.E.B. Stuart) and Chris Teasley (Newport News, Va./Menchville) pulled VWC within a 52-51 score with 31 seconds to play.

After R-MC missed a layup attempt, the Marlins grabbed the rebound and had the chance to take the lead. But, a turnover ended the opportunity to take the lead, and possibly the win.  Instead, the Marlins were forced to foul to get the ball in the final six seconds and Adam Desgain (Richmond, Va./J.R. Tucker) hit two free throws to provide R-MC with its final margin of victory.

Chris Astorga (Suffolk, Va./Virginia Beach Cape Henry Collegiate) and Vaughn scored 14 points each to lead Virginia Wesleyan. Vaughn also led all rebounders with nine.

Ten players scored for R-MC, none in double figures.  Lamar Giggetts (Fredericksburg, Va./Courtland) and Andre Simon (Newports News, Va./Menchville) scored eight points each for the Jackets.

Virginia Wesleyan returns to competition on Saturday, Feb. 11, hosting Hampden-Sydney College's Tigers in another ODAC contest.  Tip-off is slated for 2 p.m. at the Jane P. Batten Student Center.

--AMDG--