SALEM, VA--For the first time in its storied history, the Roanoke College men's basketball team fell to 0-4 in the Old Dominion Athletic Conference, that after a 75-66 loss to Bridgewater College on Wednesday night in Salem, VA. The Maroons are now 3-5 overall and winless in their four conference games. Bridgewater improves to 6-1 overall and 3-0 in league play.
Roanoke's struggles on both ends of the court helped the Eagles pull out the win, which was their 29th in 119 all-time meetings with Roanoke. The Maroons shot just 36.4 percent (20-for-55) from the field in the contest and on the other end allowed the Eagles to shoot 52.2 percent (24-for-46). The Maroons also lost the rebounding battle 37-27, allowing Bridgewater to grab 10 offensive rebounds.
Trailing 38-32 at the half, the Maroons were able to cut Bridgewater's lead to just one, 40-39, under two minutes into the second half, but the Eagles used a 14-4 run to take an 11-point lead with 12:03 to play. Bridgewater senior Ricky Easterling scored five points in the run, which was capped by a Josh Maupin three-pointer.
Sparked by a Tee Jackson (Galax, VA/Carroll Co.) three-pointer and four Kevinn Hunter (Dale City, VA/Gar-Field) free throws, the Maroons trimmed the lead to four, 56-52, with 8:48 to go in the game. A Maroon scoring slump over the next five minutes let the Eagles take their largest lead of the game, 13 points, 65-52. Roanoke's lone points in that span came on a running jumper from freshman Keith Carter (Roanoke, VA/Northside). Easterling again was the BC spark, scoring seven points in the run. The Maroons were unable to get any closer than five points the rest of the way.
Hunter led the Maroon scoring effort, tying a career-high, with 24 points. He tied an Old Dominion Athletic Conference record by going 14-for-14 from the free throw line. He tied an effort set forth by Randolph-Macon's Dan Prescott in 1994. Hunter made five field goals and added six rebounds and added a block and a steal. Jackson added 14 points, while Jared Butler (Springfield, VA/West Springfield) scored 12 points and recorded five of the team's 11 steals.
Easterling, who came into the game averaging 13.7 points a game, torched the Maroons for 28 points. He also added seven rebounds and two assists. Clay Michael recorded a double-double with 16 points and 12 rebounds. Senior point guard CW Durrette led his team's offense with six points, while also adding seven points.
The Maroons take several weeks off before returning to action on January 3rd in the first round of the V-Foundation Classic. The team will face its next conference opponent on January 8th, that a home game against Washington & Lee University.
