Roanoke nearly pulls upset, falls 57-56 to R-MC

ASHLAND, Va. — In men's basketball action Saturday, January 21st, #17 Randolph-Macon College beat Roanoke College 57-56. That makes the Yellow Jackets 14-3 on the season and 9-1 in the conference, and the Maroons fall to 10-6 overall and 4-5 in the ODAC.

Randolph-Macon sophomore forward Jeremy Dixon (Manheim, PA/Hempfield) scored just four points in 10 minutes off the bench, but two of those were the most important of the game, as he took a pass from junior guard Adam Krovic (Durham, NC/Jordan) and made a layup with under 20 seconds remaining to put the Yellow Jackets up 57-56. Freshman guard Justin Short (Chesterfield, VA/Manchester) would get the defensive rebound off a Roanoke missed shot and was able to run the clock out. Two foul shots by Randolph-Macon senior forward Justin Wansley (Richmond, VA/Henrico) with 1:43 on the clock had made the score 56-55, setting up Dixon's heroics. Wansley led all scorers and rebounders, with 19 points and 11 rebounds. He made 3-of-5 three-pointers (60.0%).

The Yellow Jackets were ahead for almost the entire first half. There was one tie early, at 4-4. The biggest lead for Randolph-Macon in the opening period was 16 points, 30-14, with under six minutes to play before halftime. Roanoke put together a three-minute, 12-1 run, reducing the deficit to five points, 31-26. But the Yellow Jackets scored the last eight points of the half, and were ahead by 13 points at the break, 39-26.

Again Randolph-Macon was ahead by as many as 16 points, 45-29, less than three minutes into the second period. A 23-5 run by the Maroons over a span of 11 minutes gave them their first lead of the game, 52-50, with 6:43 remaining. Two foul shots by Randolph-Macon junior forward Phil Hawley (Weirton, WV/Tri-State Christian Academy) put his team ahead 53-52.

Then, Roanoke sophomore guard Ben Shrader (Tazewell, VA/Mercer Christian Academy) nailed a three-pointer, assisted by freshman center Curtis Peery (Salem, VA/Salem), and that was followed by a foul shot by sophomore forward Josh LaPorte (Staunton, VA/Riverheads), and the Maroons were up 56-53 with 2:39 left in the contest. Randolph-Macon would score the last four points of the game - Wansley's free throws and Dixon's layup.

Following Wansley's performance, Randolph-Macon's Hawley and Krovic each scored eight points. Hawley also grabbed eight rebounds. Freshman guard David Carlson (Woodbridge, VA/Flint Hill School) added seven points off the bench - six of those in the first half. Short finished with six assists, tying his career-high.

Roanoke was led by Shrader, with 18 points, including 4-of-7 three-pointers (57.1%). LaPorte had a double-double, with 13 points on 5-of-7 shooting (71.4%) and 10 rebounds. Junior center Ben Lawler (Abingdon, VA/Abingdon) made 3-of-4 field goals (75.0%) for seven points, and also grabbed five rebounds, in just nine minutes off the bench.

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Players Mentioned

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

#50 Ben Lawler: Center; 6' 8"; Junior

#35 Curtis Peery: F/C; 6' 6"; Freshman

#4 Ben Shrader: G; 6' 0"; Sophomore

Players Mentioned

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

#50 Ben Lawler
: 6' 8"; Junior
: Center

#35 Curtis Peery
: 6' 6"; Freshman
: F/C

#4 Ben Shrader
: 6' 0"; Sophomore
: G