SALEM, VA--The Roanoke College men's basketball team ran its winning streak in overtime to six games with a 71-68 extra period win at Virginia Wesleyan College on Sunday afternoon in Virginia Beach, VA. The Maroons, who have not lost in overtime since the 1991-92 season, improve to 9-8 overall and 6-4 in the Old Dominion Athletic Conference. With the win, the Maroons close to within one game of Virginia Wesleyan in the ODAC standings. Following Sunday's loss, the Marlins stand alone in third place with an 8-3 conference record and a 13-4 mark overall.
The game went into overtime only after some last minute heroics from both teams. Trailing by one-point with less than a minute to go, Roanoke junior Bryan Fasnacht (Salem, VA/Glenvar) hit a 15-foot jumper to give the visitors a one-point lead. On the ensuing possession, Virginia Wesleyan freshman Marcus Fitch was called for traveling, giving the Maroons the ball. Robby Pridgen (Akron, OH/St. Vincent-St. Mary) made two free throws to give the Maroons a three-point lead. With just two seconds left, Virginia Wesleyan's David Doino drained a three-pointer, sending the game to overtime.
In overtime, the Maroons scored the first four points, the final two coming after getting three consecutive offensive rebounds and took as much as a seven-point lead, the largest lead by either team in the game. Roanoke senior Nate Stewart (Christiansburg, VA/Auburn) made one of two free throws to give the Maroons a three-point lead with less than 10 seconds to play. The Maroon defense did not give the Marlins a good look at the basket on the other end of the floor and the Maroons came away with the three-point win.
Seniors Josh Foster (Roanoke, VA/Roanoke Valley Christian) and Stewart came up big for the Maroons in the second half. Foster, who was held scoreless in the first half, made three three-pointers in the early stages of the second half, while Stewart collected several offensive rebounds and got easy put-back points in the process. Foster finished the game with 15 points, one behind the team's leading scorer, Pridgen, who tallied 16. Stewart went for seven points and grabbed 12 rebounds, six on the offensive glass. Jason Graffam (Vienna, VA/Marshall) added 12 points for RC, including a 17-footer in overtime. Joe Milton (Shawsville, VA/Shawsville) came off the bench to score six for the Maroons.
Virginia Wesleyan was led by a pair of 16-point scorers, Louis Park and Doino. Park was perfect from the field, hitting all seven of his attempts, while Doino hit two three-pointers, including the game-tying shot with two seconds left in regulation. The Marlins outrebounded the Maroons by one in the first half, but were then outrebounded by nine in the second half and trailed 45-37 for the game.
