SALEM, VA--The Roanoke College men's basketball team upset the Hampden-Sydney College Tigers, 71-67, on Monday night in Old Dominion Athletic Conference action. The Maroons improve to 16-5 on the season and 11-4 in ODAC play, while the Tigers, who were ranked seventh in the country in last week's D3Hoops Online national tally, fall to 18-3 on the year, 12-3 in conference play. The Maroons and Tigers, who combined have won the past seven ODAC championships, split the regular season series after HSC won 75-69 on their home court in mid-January. The win was also Roanoke's first over the Tigers in the regular season since the 1997-98 season.
It appeared as if the Tigers were going to cruise to a victory on RC's home court as they never trailed in the first half and jumped out to as much as a 13-point second half lead. With 9:31 to go, the Tigers led by 12, 55-43, but the Maroons went on a 20-8 run over the next five minutes to take their first lead of the game, 63-62. That lead came via a layup by RC freshman Jason Graffam (Vienna, VA/Marshall) with 4:24 to play. The Maroon run was spurred by sophomore guard Robby Pridgen (Akron, OH/St. Vincent-St. Mary) who drained three three-pointers over that span. Pridgen finished the game with four threes and 14 points.
The Tigers were able to regain the lead just once over the final 4:24 when Marcus Gregory (Meherrin, VA/Prince Edward) canned a jumper with 1:02 showing on the clock. Roanoke's Brad Dunleavy (Roanoke, VA/William Fleming) responded with a jumper with 42 seconds remaining in the game. The Tigers had a chance to tie, but missed a layup with just 12 ticks left. Off the ensuing rebound, Dunleavy was fouled. He went to the line for two, made the first, to give RC a 69-67 lead, but missed the second. However, RC's Colby Leftwich (Roanoke, VA/Patrick Henry) snared the offensive rebound, was fouled and sealed the game with two free throws with just six seconds left.
The Tigers took the lead 25 seconds into the game, never trailed in the first half, but could never extend the lead to more than nine points. That nine-point lead came as both teams headed into the locker rooms wit the score 36-27 in favor of the visitors. The Tigers shot 44 percent in the first half, but limited Roanoke to just 29.7 percent (11-of-37) in the first half. The Maroons trimmed the lead to three with 16:41 left in the game, but HSC went on a 10-0 to take its largest lead, 13 (50-37).
Roanoke's Leftwich finished the game with 19 points and 15 rebounds. Eight of his rebounds came off the offensive glass, including his game-clincher with six seconds left. Powered by the three three-pointers in the second half, Pridgen finished with 14, as did senior forward Jason Strickland (Charlottesville, VA/Covenant). Dunleavy chipped in a 11 points, two blocks and two steals. Roanoke torched the nets in the second, shooting 57.7 percent (15-of-26) from the field. Graffam gave the Maroons a spark off the bench, scoring five and grabbing seven missed shots.
Brandon Randall (Williamsburg, VA/Brunton) was the lone Tigers to break double-figures, completing the game with 10 points. Gregory, Matt McKeag (Fairfax, VA/Chantilly), and Aaron Gibbs (Richmond, VA/Trinity Episcopal) each tallied nine. The Tigers, who entered the game ranked last in the ODAC in foul shooting hit 11-of-12 in the first half, but just 4-of-10 ion the closing frame.
The Maroons host Emory & Henry College at 7:00pm on Wednesday evening in the C. Homer Bast Center.
