LYNCHBURG, VA--The Roanoke College men's basketball team brought an end to a two-game losing streak, defeating host Lynchburg College 69-56 in Lynchburg, VA on Saturday afternoon. The Maroons, who sweep the season series from the Hornets for the third consecutive season, improve to 12-10 on the year, 8-7 in the Old Dominion Athletic Conference. Lynchburg is now 6-16, 3-12 in the league.
Leading by as many as 15 points in the second half, the Maroons allowed the Hornets to within just three points late. A pair of free throws by the Hornets made the score 55-52 with 4:50 left in the game. The Maroons, however, ended the game on a 14-4 run to come away with the 13-point win. Curtis Peery was the key to that run, scoring the first nine points, three coming on an old-fashioned three-point play. Keith Carter and Josh LaPorte each hit two free throws in the final minute.
Roanoke trailed just one time in the game, that at 3-2 when Lynchburg's Steven Echols hit a three-pointer 30 seconds into the contest. Peery answered with a jumper seconds later and the Maroons never were behind again. Roanoke's first-half lead was as much as 11 points.
Peery's 24 points were a career-high, surpassing his old high by two points. He made 10 of his 13 shots from the field and also added five rebounds. LaPorte ended the day with 12 points and 12 rebounds, his fourth double-double of the year. The Maroons also shot 51 percent from the field in the win, the second time in the last four games the team has made a majority of its shots.
Roanoke is back in action on Sunday in a road game against the Tigers of Hampden-Sydney College. Hampden-Sydney won a 65-62 decision over Roanoke in Salem earlier this season.
