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It was the Adam Brazil show on Saturday night. The fifth-year guard scored a game-high 25 points, including going 8-8 at the free throw line, to lead nationally-ranked No. 12 Hampden-Sydney College to a 79-72 win over Randolph-Macon. 

Junior guard Hamilton Campbell added a season-high 16 points, along with a game-high five assists for the visiting Tigers, who trailed 40-34 at halftime and 66-65 with 4:28 remaining before closing the contest on a 14-6 run to improve to 6-1 overall, including 2-0 in the Old Dominion Athletic Conference (ODAC). Jabril Robinson had 20 points, including four three-point field goals, for the Yellow Jackets, who dropped to 3-3 overall, 1-1 in the ODAC.

“Wow, the guys showed a lot of grit tonight,” said Tigers Head Coach Caleb Kimbrough. “Started very slow but really stuck with it until we found our rhythm. ODAC road wins are hard to come by, this was a big one.”

Hampden-Sydney, ranked No. 12 in the latest D3hoops.com Top 25, and Randolph-Macon, receiving votes in the poll, tipped-off a few minutes early at 6:55 p.m. and the Yellow Jackets were ready for the early start, jumping out to a 15-4 advantage at the 12:56 mark. The Tigers battled back with nine unanswered points, getting a rare four-point play from junior transfer guard and team captain Colin Radcliffe off the bench when he connected on a three-point field goal and was fouled, making the free throw, followed by a jumper by Brazil and a three-pointer from senior guard Ayman McGowan. RMC extended the lead to 27-17 at 6:13, but H-SC scored eight-straight points during a quick 13-2 run to take its first lead of the contest at 30-29 with 3:38 left in the half. Campbell scored nine of the points, including a three-pointer, while Brazil added the other four points. The Yellow Jackets, however, outscored their visitors 11-4 to close the half and led 40-34 at halftime-getting a desperation buzzer-beating three-pointer from Robinson.

Adam Brazil, Tigers ignite in second half

Hampden-Sydney began the second half with a 13-2 run to lead 47-42 at 14:01 following a three-pointer by Adam Brazil, getting four points from Radcliffe, as well. The Tigers led 52-49 with 11:36 remaining after a three-pointer from McGowan, but RMC used a 13-6 run to go back ahead 62-58 at the 6:56 mark. The Garnet & Grey battled back to lead 65-64 after two free throws by junior forward Shane Fernald with 4:50 left to play, but the Yellow Jackets answered with two free throws of their own to lead 66-65 at 4:28. Fernald scored down low to make it 67-66 with 4:09 to go, starting the decisive and game-ending run for the visitors.

Hampden-Sydney shot 51% (22-43) from the field, including 42% (5-12) on three-pointers, and 91% (30-33) at the free throw line. The Tigers enjoyed a 32-18 advantage in bench points in a contest that featured a combined 58 fouls and 71 free throw attempts between the two teams. Randolph-Macon shot 37% (20-54) from the field, including 20% (5-25) on three-pointers, and 71% (27-38) at the line.

What’s next for Tigers? 

Hampden-Sydney will be idle for the majority of next week for fall semester exams before hosting non-conference opponent William Peace (NC) University on Friday, Dec. 13, at 7 p.m. in S. Douglas Fleet Gymnasium at Kirby Field House.