Salem, Va. --- The men's basketball team fell to #12 Guilford, 63-53 in the ODAC Semifinals at the Salem Civic Center this evening. The Quakers advance to the ODAC Championship game between the winner of the Hampden-Sydney/Virginia Wesleyan game and improved to 23-4. The Maroons end their season at 18-9.

It was the final game for seniors Keith Carter, AJ Dowell, Jeff Leiter, Josh LaPorte, Ben Shrader and Ty Sigmon. They finished their careers with a four-year mark of 64-43.

The tightly played game featured eight ties, including a 26-26 deadlock at halftime. The teams were knotted at 40 midway through the second half before Guilford got some breathing room with a Caleb Kimbrough three-pointer followed by a Clay Henson basket that opened a 50-44 spread with 7:07 remaining in regulation.

Consecutive baskets by Curtis Peery kept Roanoke within 52-48 with 5:50 left before a 6-0 Guilford spurt opened a 58-48 margin with 3:40 to play. Melvin Felix's three-pointer with 1:53 left made it a 60-53 game, but the Maroons missed four shots and turned the ball over once over its next four possessions. Guilford built its lead to 14 by making six-of-seven free throws in the final minute.

The Quakers started the week ranked first in NCAA Division III in rebounding margin and enjoyed a 51-31 advantage on the glass against the Maroons. Guilford grabbed 16 offensive caroms, leading to 19 points. Roanoke's nine offensive boards resulted in six points. The Quakers outscored Roanoke in the paint, 40-16.

Ben Strong led Guilford with 18 points and 11 rebounds, three blocked shots. Eric Belkoski poured in 13 points to go along with nine rebounds for the Quakers.

Felix led the Maroons with 14 points while Peery chipped in 12 points and pulled down seven rebounds in addition to three steals. Shrader hit 3-of-5 from three-point range and Zach Milton had a career-best three steals. Dowell had five points and seven assists in his final collegiate game.

LaPorte ended his brilliant career as the only Maroon in school history to have 900 points, 800 rebounds, 230 assists, 170 steals and 120 blocked shots in a career. Carter ended his career sixth on the all-time assists list with 301 assists. Shrader finished second all-time in three-pointers with 167. Dowell finished his career with 900 points, 200 assists and 100 steals. Sigmon had a career-best 18 blocked shots this season while Jeff Leiter finished his career with 45 three-pointers.