SALEM, VA--Roanoke College's quest to start off its season 3-0 for the first time since the 1996-97 season on the men's basketball was unsuccessful as the Maroons lost to the defending Division III national champion and 10th ranked Otterbein Cardinals, 82-73, in the Maryville College Invitational on Saturday in Maryville, TN. The following day, the Maroons were easily beaten by host Maryville, 95-67, in the consolation game. The Maroons fall to 2-2 on the season with the two losses, which also gave the team four consecutive road tournament losses.
Roanoke's Robby Pridgen (Akron, OH/St. Vincent-St. Mary) got the Maroons off to a blistering start in the Otterbein contest, scoring the team's first 13 points, nine coming from behind the three-point line. A Josh Foster (Roanoke, VA/Roanoke Valley Christian) layup with 9:18 to go in the first half tied the score at 27, but the Maroons went on a seven minute scoring drought allowing the Cardinals to go on a 16-0 run to take control of the game. The Maroons did not score again until there was 2:56 to go in the opening 20 minutes of play. At the break, the Maroons, who allowed OC to shoot 61.3 percent from the floor in the first, trailed 47-34.
In the opening moments of the second half, the Maroons scored nine of the first 11 points and were able to trim the OC lead to just six, 49-43. However, the Maroons defense continued to struggle, allowing easy jumpers and layups to the Cardinals, who went on to shoot 60 percent from the field in the second and 60.8 percent overall. Dick Reynolds' squad made 31 of its 51 field goal attempts in the game and 15 of its 19 free throw tries. Pridgen fell four points shy of his career-high, finishing with a game-high 31 points. The senior guard went 7-for-12 from three-point range, falling just one three shy of tying a school record (the record is held by Paris Butler). Foster and Jason Graffam each added 11 for the Maroons, who turned the ball over just 14 times, as opposed to 22 by the Cardinals.
Foster got the Maroons out to a 2-0 lead in the early stages against Maryville, but it was all down hill from there. The Scots went on a 15-0 run over the next six minutes and by the time the Maroons had scored again (with 13:59 to play in the first) had taken control of the game. For the second day in a row, the Maroon defense allowed its opponent to have a strong day from the field. Maryville shot 62.5 percent from the field in the first half and 59.3 percent for the game. Pridgen again led the Maroon offense, scoring 14 of his team-high 16 points in the second half. Jared Butler (Springfield, VA/West Springfield) added 11 points for the Maroons.
The Maroons take on Emory & Henry on Wednesday, December 4th at the C. Homer Bast Center. The game, which begins at 7:00pm, is the Old Dominion Athletic Conference season opener for the Maroons.
Roanoke vs. Otterbein Box Score
Roanoke vs. Maryville Box Score
