LYNCHBURG, Va. – Freshman Essex Thompson scored a game-high 18 points off the bench to lead the Bridgewater College men's basketball team past conference rival Randolph, 63-60, on Wednesday evening.

Bridgewater improves its overall record to 3-2 and is the first ODAC team to start 2-0 in league play.

Sophomore Jesse Case poured in 13 points and junior Bryce Boggs also tallied double-digit points with 11. Sophomore Kevin Saylor added seven rebounds, five points and two assists while freshman Zach Kopp chipped in six buckets and six rebounds.

In the opening minutes, Randolph (1-4, 0-1 ODAC) grabbed a 5-0 lead before back-to-back three's from Keonte Dennis and Case gave BC a 6-5 edge.

The Eagles went on a 9-0 run with 3:26 remaining in the first period. Case registered four straight points on free throws and a layup, Dennis produced another bucket and Case canned a three-pointer for a 26-20 margin.

However, the Wildcats answered with an 11-3 rally to claim a 31-29 advantage at the end of the half.

Randolph opened the second period with a bucket, but a three-pointer from Saylor and a Efe Balfour layup gave BC a 34-33 lead.

At the 8:54 mark, Randolph's Drew Hayden made a layup to put his team ahead 49-44. 

Boggs scored on a tip in to cut the deficit to 59-56, and Essex knocked down a pair of foul shots to create a one-point affair, 60-59, with 0:54 seconds remaining.

With 0:16 seconds on the game clock, Boggs attacked the basket to lift BC to a 61-60 lead.

Essex was fouled with four second left to go and netted both free throws to seal the conference triumph.

The Eagles return to action with a non-conference matchup at Ferrum on Monday at 7:00 p.m.