EMU Tops Roanoke 67-61 in Mens Basketball

Harrisonburg, Va. -- Sophomore forward Jason Sager recorded his third double-double in four games with 15 points and 12 rebounds to lead Eastern Mennonite University to a 67-61 victory over Roanoke College in an Old Dominion Athletic Conference game on Wednesday.

EMU (3-1, 1-0) staked itself to a 33-29 lead at halftime, but Roanoke (3-2, 0-1) went out in front 44-42 on a three-point play by junior guard Jared Butler with 14:19 remaining. The Royals then put together a 12-0 run over the next five minutes to take a 54-44 lead. Sophomore Chris Ropp and junior Dustin Galyon each connected on three-pointers and sophomore Jason Lentz hit a jumper and two free throws to help spark the run.

Roanoke chipped away at the EMU lead to draw as close as 62-61 with 1:51 remaining in the contest. Freshman Brad Parkes converted the first of two free throws and grabbed the rebound on the second shot. With the shot clock winding down, sophomore JoMorrae Gordon hit a jump shot from just inside the three-point arch for a four-point Royals lead.

Freshman Josh LaPorte missed a three-pointer with nine seconds remaining for Roanoke. Sager grabbed the rebound and got the ball to Ropp for an uncontested lay-up to account for the final 67-61 margin.

In addition to 15 points and 12 rebounds, Sager also had three assists, one block and one steal. Lentz had 14 points, eight rebounds, and four steals for the Royals while Ropp added 14 points, 12 on three-pointers, along with three assists and three steals. The Royals shot 41.0% for the game and connected on 4-of-7 three-point field goals in the second half. EMU held a 40-33 edge in rebounds for the game.

Roanoke was led by Butler with 17 points and five rebounds. Senior forward Kevinn Hunter had 11 points and six rebounds while sophomore guard Tee Jackson scored 10 points for the Maroons. Roanoke shot 40.7% for the game but converted just 4-of-19 three-pointers. The Maroons converted 10-of-10 free throws in the second half to help keep the game close.

Print Friendly Version

Players Mentioned

#3 Jared Butler: Guard; 5' 11"; Junior

#1 Kevinn Hunter: Forward/Center; 6' 5"; Senior

#12 Tee Jackson: Guard; 6' 3"; Sophomore

#30 Josh LaPorte: F; 6' 6"; Freshman

Players Mentioned

#3 Jared Butler
: 5' 11"; Junior
: Guard

#1 Kevinn Hunter
: 6' 5"; Senior
: Forward/Center

#12 Tee Jackson
: 6' 3"; Sophomore
: Guard

#30 Josh LaPorte
: 6' 6"; Freshman
: F