The men's basketball team fell to Randolph-Macon, 73-58 for their first loss of the season at Bast Gym on Sunday. The loss dropped the Maroons to 4-1 overall, 1-1 in the ODAC. The Yellow Jackets improved to 2-2, 1-1 in the ODAC. The 4-1 record is the best start for the Maroons since 1996-97.

The Maroons were outrebounded the first time this season, 33-27, 21-9 in the second half. It led to a 20-6 advantage in second chance points, 13-2 in the second half by RMC. The Yellow Jackets also had advantages in points off turnovers (33-10), points in the paint (38-22) and 15-4 off the bench.

The first half was a battle as each team would trade buckets the entire half. The Maroons jumped out to an early 6-0 lead as senior Josh LaPorte and junior Curtis Peery scored three points each.

The Yellow Jackets, who has won 15 of the last 16 meetings, would counter a 10-4 run to tie the game at 10 apiece with 10:31 remaining in the half.

Roanoke would score seven of the next 10 points to make the score, 20-13, their largest lead of the half with 6:34 to go in the half.

RMC would go on a quick 7-2 run just before halftime as Jeremy Dixon scored on a layup to give the Yellow Jackets their first lead, 29-27 with :57 seconds left. Peery's layup just before halftime tied the contest at 29-29.

Roanoke out rebounded RMC, 18-12 in the first half, led by Peery and LaPorte with nine rebounds combined.

The Yellow Jackets blistered the nets, shooting 55-percent, 91% from the free throw line as they held the Maroons to 35-percent from the field (8-for-23).

A three-pointer by junior Zach Milton gave the Maroons their last lead of the game, 32-21. RMC would regain the lead in the midst of an 8-0 run to put them up for good, 39-32.

A Keith Carter three-pointer put the Maroons within three, 41-38 with 14:09 left, but would get no closer as the Yellow Jackets would slowly pull away.

Randolph-Macon would end the game on a 23-12 run, hitting their final six free throws to seal the win.

The Maroons were led by senior AJ Dowell, with 16 points and three assists. Carter had 13 points and three assists, including 3-of-4 from beyond the arc. Peery finished with 13 points (7-for-7 on free throws), six rebounds and a career-high four blocked shots. LaPorte led the Maroons with seven rebounds and three assists.

Jeremy Dixon led all scorers with 19 points and three steals for Randolph-Macon. David Carlson and Jordan Brown added 13 points each.

The Maroons will have the rest of the semester off until they travel to Orlando, FL to play against Hope and Defiance in the Orlando Magic Classic on Dec. 18-19. It will be the first meeting against both teams.