The men's basketball team defeated Ferrum, 83-67 to win the 2008 Domino's New Year's Classic on Saturday afternoon. The Maroons improved to 7-2 on the season while the Panthers dropped to 6-7. Curtis Peery garnered tournament MVP honors while AJ Dowell racked up an all-tournament team plaque.

The Maroons offensive attack came alive, scoring a season-high 83 points led by Dowell with a season-high 19 points. He also had a career-high four steals. Roanoke had at least 20 assists for the second-straight game this season, led by LaPorte with a season-high seven. He also passed former Maroon great Hillary Scott for seventh all-time in steals with 146.

Zach Milton was the story for today's game as he set career-highs in points (18), field goals made (7), three-pointers made (4 ) and steals with four.

It was a tight first half as both teams were playing well, hitting their shots and playing solid defense. There were eight ties and 10 lead changes in the first half.

After a three-pointer by Jon Godsey cut the Roanoke lead to two, the Maroons increased their lead to eight, 39-31 after a three-pointer by LaPorte, two free throws by Dowell and one by Kendrick Chittock. It was the first point of the season for Chittock and the largest lead of the half for either team.

Ferrum hung around, keeping the game within reach as Keith Crump hit a three-pointer to make the score, 52-47 with 17 minutes to play.

The Maroons eventually put the Panthers away, going on a 24-9 run over the next eight minutes to give them a 71-51 lead with 9:35 remaining. Ferrum would get no closer than 12 the rest of the game.

The difference came in the paint during the second half, as the big men won the rebounding battle, 37-34 and 22-14 in points in the paint. Forwards Josh LaPorte and Peery scored 15 and 11 points, respectively, in addition to 12 rebounds combined.

After shooting 54-percent in the first half, the Panthers were held to just 41-percent from the floor in the second half. The Maroons had a season-high 15 steals while scoring 16 points off turnovers.

Freshman Melvin Felix finished with eight points, hitting two three-pointers and two steals. Senior forward Ty Sigmon led the Maroons with three blocks to set a new career-high.

As a team, the Maroons hit 17 three-pointers (36.2%), dished out 42 assists in addition to 24 steals and 15 blocked shots over the weekend. The Maroons won their 11^th-straight over the Panthers.

The men will return to ODAC play this Wednesday as they travel to Emory & Henry on Jan. 9. Game time is scheduled for 7 p.m. The men are 60-39 all-time vs. the Wasps, including a 112-107 overtime win in Emory last season.