ASHLAND, Va. - A rough first half proved the difference for Penn State Harrisburg's men's basketball team in an 82-63 setback to a Randolph-Macon squad receiving votes in the latest national rankings in the 2023 RMC Coaches Tournament Championship Game on Saturday evening, Dec. 30. 

Donyae Baylor-Carroll was electric for much of the second half and finished with a game-high 25 points. He was named to the all-tournament team for his efforts. Nate Curry flirted with a double-double with eight points and seven rebounds, while Dylan Moore added seven points off the bench. 

Alex Leiba got the scoring started with a baseline hook shot but the 2022 national champs (9-3) responded with a 10-0 run over the ensuing four minutes as the Lions (11-3) went ice cold from the floor. Baylor-Carroll knocked down a fadeaway jumper that cut the deficit to 14-6 midway through the opening half and answered a Randolph-Macon 3-ball with a triple of his own the next time down the floor but another big run, this time a 14-2 spurt, pushed the RMC advantage to 31-11 with 4:47 left before halftime.

Trailing 40-17 at the break, Penn State Harrisburg pushed the pace to open the second half, led by an aggressive Baylor-Carroll who netted 16 of the team's first 20 points coming out of the locker room. Mid-range jumpers, contested 3-pointers, layups in traffic, and even a 4-point play - the shifty guard had it all working in the final 20 minutes. 

With the help of a Curry layup, a Lance Douglas jump shot, and a Chase Robinson triple, the Lions cut the deficit to 17 on three separate occasions but they were unable to string together much-needed defensive stops to halt the well-oiled Yellow Jacket offense and draw any closer down the stretch. 

NOTABLES

- Randolph-Macon is the fifth NCAA Tournament team from a year ago the Lions have faced this season. Penn State Harrisburg is 3-2 in those contests.

- Saturday's contest was Penn State Harrisburg's sixth consecutive road game.

- The Lions won the second half 46-42 after trailing 40-17 at the break.

- RMC was dominant on the glass, finishing with a 45-26 rebounding advantage.

- The Yellow Jackets scored 36 points in the paint compared to just 16 for Penn State Harrisburg.

- The home team made 26 trips to the foul line. The Lions went 11-of-13 (84.6 percent) from the stripe.

- Baylor-Carroll poured in a game-high 25 points and dished out a team-best three assists. He was named to the RMC Coaches All-Tournament Team for his efforts.

- Curry flirted with a double-double with eight points and seven rebounds.

- Moore finished with seven points and four boards off the bench.

- Robinson added five points and a pair of assists. 

- Leiba and Malachi Thomas chipped in with four points apiece. 

WHO'S NEXT?

The Lions return to the Capital Union Building for the first time in more than a month when they host Muhlenberg for their final non-conference contest of the season on Wednesday night, Jan. 3.

STAY CONNECTED 

Fans can keep up with Penn State Harrisburg Athletics all season long on Instagram, Facebook, X (formerly Twitter), Threads, and Youtube using the handle @pshbgathletics.