SALEM, VA--The Roanoke College men's basketball team battled back from a nine-point halftime deficit to defeat the Generals of Washington & Lee University 71-59 on Saturday evening in Salem, VA. The Maroons run their winning streak to four games and also pick up their first Old Dominion Athletic Conference win of the season, against four losses. The Generals, meanwhile, have their two-game win streak ended and fall to 2-10 overall on the year and 0-5 in the ODAC.
The Generals built themselves a comfortable 35-26 halftime lead thanks in large part to their domination on the boards. The Generals outrebounded the Maroons 23-8 in the first half, and as a result, limited the Maroon second chance opportunities, while creating their own. The Generals had 10 offensive rebounds in the first half of play. At the half, the Generals were outscoring the Maroons 10-2 on second chance points. The Washington & Lee defense also did its part to build the lead in the first half. The Maroons led 22-19 with 7:42 left in the first 20 minutes, but W&L limited Roanoke to just four points the rest of the half. Back-to-back three-pointers, by Chris Halkitis and John Mumper, gave W&L a 31-26 lead with 2:40 to play and just before the end of the half Colton Braud hit a layup to make the score 35-26.
The Maroon defense proved to be the difference in the second half, 20 minutes of play in which the Maroons outscored the Generals 45-24. The Maroons limited Washington & Lee to just six second half field goals. However, it wasn't until 4:15 left in the game that the Maroons took control for good.
Jared Butler made two free throws to give the Maroons a 54-52 lead with 6:38 to go, but Greg Bienemann hit his only three-pointer moments later to give W&L another lead, 55-54. Freshman
Ben Shrader answered back with a 17-foot jumper, a three-pointer, and a floating jumper in the lane to give the Maroons a 61-55 lead with 2:39 to play. The Maroons then made six consecutive free throws late to ice the game.
Earlier in the second half, the Maroons had cut the General lead to one, 48-47, but the Generals regained momentum and pushed the lead back to five. Off of an inbounds play, Roanoke freshman
Keith Carter hit a three-pointer from the corner to trim the lead to two points, 52-50.
Tee Jackson then made to free throws to even the score at 52.
In the second half of play, the Maroon defense held Washington & Lee to just three-field goals over the final 14 minutes of play. The Maroon defense, helped by full-court pressure, also forced 10 W&L second half turnovers. Meanwhile, the Roanoke offense made 15 of its 25 shots and finished the day shooting 51 percent from the field, just the second time all season the Maroons have made a majority of their shots.
In all, the Maroons had just six players record points, but got 17 each from
Kevinn Hunter,
Jared Butler, and Shrader. Shrader's total was just one off of his career-best, with 15 coming in the second half of play. Butler scored 11 in the second half as well.
Josh LaPorte finished with eight points and also had eight rebounds for the third consecutive game.
The Generals finished the day with 18 offensive rebounds, but were held to just two second chance points in the second half of play. The Generals had assists on 15 of their 19 baskets, with Femi Kusimo leading the way with six helpers. Halkitis finished the game with a team-best 14 points, while Bienemann tallied 13. The Generals entered the game shooting 67 percent from the free throw line, but finished the day making 15 of their 19 attempts, including 8-of-10 over the final 14 minutes of the game.
The Maroons are back in action on Wednesday in a road game against the Quakers of Guilford College. The game will begin at 7:00pm in Greensboro, NC.
Roanoke vs. Washington & Lee Box Score
