SALEM, VA-After snapping a seven-game losing streak last Saturday, the Roanoke College men's basketball team put together its second consecutive victory, beating Chestnut Hill (PA) College 89-65 on Wednesday evening in the Domino's Classic in Salem, VA. The Maroons improve to 3-7 overall and will next play Drew (NJ) University at 5:00pm Thursday in the tournament's championship game. Earlier in the day Drew defeated Ferrum College 70-65. Ferrum and Chestnut Hill will play the consolation game at 3:00pm Thursday.
With Roanoke's win, head coach Page Moir collected his 300th career victory. Now in his 18th season as Roanoke's head coach, Moir has a 300-168 all-time record.
Roanoke 89, Chestnut Hill 65
With the score tied at 30 late in the first half, the Maroons took over with 4:58 left in the opening 20 minutes, that on a Josh LaPorte layup that sparked a 15-5 Roanoke run to end the frame. LaPorte's layup gave the Maroons the two-point lead and was followed by his free throw to complete a three-point play. Curtis Peery followed with a jumper and the Maroons led by five.
Leading 37-33 with 2:28 left, Jeff Leiter hit a three from the wing. Keith Carter had a three of his own and followed with a 15-foot jumper to give Roanoke a 12-point lead with 36 seconds left. The Griffins scored with 15 seconds left in the half and the Maroons owned a 45-35 halftime lead.
Roanoke sophomore Zach Milton hit a three-pointer to start the scoring in the second half, giving the Maroons a 13-point lead. Chestnut Hill would get no closer than that the rest of the way. Roanoke's largest lead of the second half came on the second of two free throws from Ben Shrader to give the hosts a 27-point edge, 81-54, with 4:58 left.
The Maroons turned the ball over a season-low eight times in the contest, just twice in the first half of play. The Maroons also outrebounded the Griffins 18-12 in the first half, getting 10 of those 18 off the offensive glass. Shrader led all scorer with 16 points and was one of four Maroons in double-figures. Keith Carter scored a season-best 12 points, not missing a shot from the field or free throw line. He also had four rebounds, two assists, and two steals. The Maroon defense held Chestnut Hill leading scorer Isaac Greer (18.0 ppg) to just 11 points.
Drew 70, Ferrum 65
Drew made 12 of their 26 three-point attempts, seven of their 13 first half attempts, in the five-point win over Ferrum. The Rangers made their first three field goal attempts, all three-pointers, to jump out to a 9-4 lead. The Ranger first half lead was as many as 12 points.
Down by as many as 14 points in the second half, Ferrum rallied to tie the score at 46 with 9:53 to play in the game on a Cedric Jones basket in the paint. Ferrum Kevin Lambert scored on an elbow jumper to give Ferrum a 51-48 lead with 8:33 to play. Drew's Bob Carella hit one of his four three-pointers, with 6:44 to play, and moments later hit a free throw to give the Rangers the lead for good.
Carella finished with 23 points for Drew while Chris Lopez and Gerard Mullin each scored 17 points for the Rangers. Jones led all Ferrum scorers with 18 points and also added 10 rebounds.
