SALEM, Va--- Roanoke dropped its first decision of the year to Ferrum, 81-73 Sunday afternoon in the championship game of the Dick Leftwich V-Foundation Classic at the Bast Center. The Maroons fell to 1-1 on the young season, while Ferrum improved to 3-0 on the year.

Roanoke fell to Ferrum for just the second time in the last 13 meetings. The series continued to provide close competition, with 10 of the last 18 games being decided by less than 10 points. The Maroons hold a 14-4 edge over the Panthers in the series.

Ferrum, the preseason favorite to win the USA-South, also recieved votes in the top-25 national poll, was led by preseason USA-South Player of the Year Derek Mitchell. Mitchell, who also recieved Tournament-MVP honors, led the Panthers with game-highs of 25 points, 16 rebounds, and four assists. Teammate Lamont King, who joined Mitchell on the all-tournament team, chipped in with 17 points and six rebounds, going a perfect 7-7 from the floor.

The Panthers outscored the Maroons, 21-7 in second chance points and 41-15 off the bench en route to claiming their first V-Foundation Classic Championship. Ferrum outrebounded Roanoke, 43-39.

Tied 2-2 early in the contest, Ferrum went on a 16-3 run to jump out to an 18-5 lead midway through the first half. Roanoke countered with a 13-2 run to cut its deficit to within two, 20-18, with just over four minutes remaining before halftime.

Ferrum responded with an 11-3 run over the next three minutes and went into the locker room with a six-point halftime advantage, 36-30.

The Maroons came out strong at the start of the second half, scoring the first five points of the stanza to cut the lead to one, 36-35, just three minutes into play. The Panthers slowly pulled away over the next seven minutes, to take a 12 point lead forcing Head Coach Page Moir to take a timeout with 10 minutes to play.

Roanoke fought back with 11 unanswered points over the next three minutes. A Matt Crizer (Covington, VA, Alleghany) three-pointer with just under eight minutes to play tied the score, 64-all, for the first time since the score was 2-2. The two teams traded baskets over the next three minutes and tied the game for a third time off a Melvin Felix layup to make it, 68-68.

From there the Panthers closed the game on a 13-5 run, connecting on 7-of-10 free-throws down the final stretch.

Melvin Felix (Caguas, Puerto Rico, Salem) led Roanoke with 18 points, six rebounds, and four assists.Jack Hamilton (Arlington, VA, St, Stephen's St. Agnes) continued to give the Maroons quality minutes in his first career start, adding 14 points and five rebounds. Kwasi Amponsah (Woodbridge, VA, Garfield) contributed season-highs of 11 points, five rebounds and four steals (career-high) in his first start of the year.

The play of Felix and Hamilton earned them all-tournament honors. Felix finished the weekend with 51 points, 11 rebounds, four assists, and five steals. Hamilton completed the tournament with 24 points, 12 rebounds and two steals. Timur Oktay of Warren Wilson, rounded out the all-tournament team.

The Maroons return to action on Monday, Nov. 22 as they host Patrick Henry College. It will be the Maroons third game in as many days. Tip-off is scheduled for 7 p.m. at the Bast Center.