LEXINGTON, Va. — No. 24 Randolph-Macon opened the game on a 21-5 run, and despite a W&L rally midway through the second half, the Yellow Jackets held on for a 79-68 victory over the Washington and Lee men's basketball team on Wednesday at the Duchossois Tennis Center.
 
The teams were tied, 3-3, 1:19 into the contest, but the Yellow Jackets (5-0, 1-0 ODAC) poured in nine straight points, capped on a jumper by junior guard Buzz Anthony, to assume a 12-3 advantage at the 16:24 mark.
 
A pair of free throws by first-year guard Jack Lewis (Rockville, Md./Sidwell Friends) momentarily stopped the run, but R-MC answered with another 9-0 spurt to jump out in front, 21-5, with 12:14 to go in the half. The Yellow Jackets continued to build their lead the rest of the period and took a 23-point margin (48-25) into the break.
 
The Generals (2-2, 0-1 ODAC) quickly cut into the deficit in the second half. First-year guard Cheick Toure (Silver Spring, Md./Sandy Spring Friends School) opened the period with a triple, sophomore guard Mark Lamendola (Pittsburgh, Pa./Mount Lebanon) followed with a jumper in the paint and then Toure knocked down another jumper to pull W&L to within 48-32 with 18:22 left in the game.
 
The Blue and White trailed, 54-35, with 14:43 on the clock, but then a three-pointer by senior guard Kevin Dennin (Severna Park, Md./Severn School), a jumper by junior forward William Bruggeman (Houston, Texas Strake/Jesuit College Prep) and a pair of free throws by senior forward Mark Croughan (Rye, N.Y./Rye) trimmed the lead to 12 (54-42) with 13:12 remaining in the game.
 
Randolph-Macon made a shot in the paint on its next possession, but then back-to-back triples by Dennin and Brueggeman closed the gap to 56-48 with 12:06 to go in the game. The Yellow Jackets notched the next three baskets to stretch the advantage back to 14, 62-48, and R-MC held at least a double-digit lead the rest of the way en route to the 11-point victory.
 
W&L finished the night just 22-of-68 (32.4 percent) from the field. The Yellow Jackets made 44.6 percent (29-of-65) of their shots, including 51.5 percent (17-of-33) in the first half. The Blue and White outscored Randolph-Macon in the second half, 43-31.
 
Bruggeman finished the night with 20 points and six rebounds. Junior forward Curtis Mitchell (Chevy Chase, Md./Georgetown Prep) grabbed a career-best 17 rebounds with three blocks. It marked the most rebounds by a W&L player since J.D Ey '13 had 21 against Bridgewater in 2013. Dennin totaled 17 points and four boards, while Lamendola registered 12 points.
 
Anthony led all scorers with 23 points to go with nine rebounds, five assists and three steals. First-year forward Mike Mallory contributed 18 points, nine rebounds and three blocks.
 
The Generals return to action on Friday, when they host Whittier at 7:00 pm.