HAMPDEN-SYDNEY, VA- Down 11 points at halftime, the Roanoke College men's basketball team mounted a furious second half comeback and survived 12 three-pointers made by host Hampden-Sydney in an 80-79 Maroon road victory on Sunday. The Maroons, who hadn't won at Hampden-Sydney since January 28, 1995, improve to 13-10 overall and 9-7 in the Old Dominion Athletic Conference. Roanoke moves into sole possession of fourth place in the ODAC standings, just a half-game behind third place Emory & Henry. Hampden-Sydney, which had won the first meeting between the two teams this season, is now 13-10, 8-8 in the ODAC.
The Tigers shot 55.6 percent from the field in the first half and carried a 43-32 lead into the break. The HSC lead was as many as 13 points in the first half, but a
Josh LaPorte steal and dunk just before the break brought the Maroons to within 11. Roanoke shot just 34 percent from the field in the first half and made just five of 18 three-point attempts.
Curtis Peery, who played limited minutes in the first half with foul trouble, opened the second half scoring with a jumper and
Zach Milton followed with a fastbreak layup and free throw to bring the Maroons to within six, 43-37. Moments later,
AJ Dowell, who missed Roanoke's game on Saturday with an illness, made two free throws and the Tiger lead was down to four, 45-41. After a
Keith Carter steal, Peery made his third field goal of the second half and Roanoke cut the lead to two, 45-43.
With 12 minutes left in the game, Hampden-Sydney's Lane Medlin hit a three from the wing to give HSC a seven-point cushion, 57-50. The Maroons went on a 16-3 run over the next six minutes and with 6:30 showing on the clock took their largest lead of the game, 66-60.
Ben Lawler scored on a second-chance layup, Dowell scored on a short jumper, and
Tee Jackson made one of his season-high five three-pointers and the Maroons tied the game at 57. Tyler Murray answered with a three to give the Tigers the lead back, but
Jeff Leiter hit a three from the wing to even the score at 60.
LaPorte scored in the paint and Peery scored on back-to-back shots and Roanoke's lead was 66-60. Hampden-Sydney battled back to take a 68-67 lead on a Mike Edwards three with 4:04 to play, but on the ensuing Roanoke possession Carter made one of Roanoke's four three-pointers in the second half. Later, Edwards again had the range on a three-point attempt, this time evening the score at 74, but Jackson countered with the final of his five threes and with 1:31 to play the Maroons took the lead for good.
With eight seconds to play, Dowell hit two free throws to give the Maroons an 80-76 lead. Edwards hit a three with just two second left, but the Maroons got the ball in bounds quickly and ran out the time.
Jackson scored a season-high 17 points for Roanoke, while Dowell, LaPorte, Peery, and
Ben Shrader all finished with double-digits in the scoring column. Ten of Peery's 11 points came in the second half, while Carter ended the game with seven assists, his high of the season.
Roanoke vs. Hampden-Sydney Box Score
