Huntingdon men lose OT battle with unbeaten Randolph

HAMPDEN-SYDNEY, Va. – The Huntingdon men's basketball team led unbeaten Randolph College until the final minute of regulation on Sunday.

But the Wildcats tied the game in the final minute to force overtime and edge the Hawks 75-73.

Huntingdon (3-8) led by as many as 11 points in the first half and led 36-33 at the half. In the second half, Huntingdon never trailed, but never led by more than six points.

The Hawks led 66-63 with 1:16 to play in regulation before Randolph hit a 3-pointer to tie the game 66-66 with 57 seconds left.

In overtime, the two teams continued to match each other point-for-point. A Jeremiah Thomas basket tied the game 73-73 with 52 seconds left before Randolph (11-0) took a 75-73 lead with 20 seconds left.

Thomas led Huntingdon with 21 points and 10 rebounds. Ryan Petty followed with 13 points, seven rebounds and six assists and Austin Hill added 12 points and eight rebounds.

"We played well against a very good team and we had our chances to win," Huntingdon men's basketball coach Mike Pugh said. "We led the whole game, but we made some mistakes at the end of regulation that cost us. We missed four free throws down the stretch that would have helped us and we committed two turnovers in the final minute.

"Missed free throws and turnovers will get you beat. Now we just have to move on and get ready for St. Mary's."

The Hawks play 16th-ranked St. Mary's (10-1) in the Morris Cregger Invitational at Roanoke College on Tuesday at 1 p.m.