Box Score
VIRGINIA BEACH - The Roanoke College men's basketball team pushed Virginia Wesleyan to the limit on Wednesday night, but ultimately fell to the #2 team in the nation, 73-67.
Julian Ramirez led the Maroons (4-1) with a career-high 20 points, going 7-11 on the evening. Ramirez also led all Maroons in assists (3) and steals (5).
Kwasi Amponsah was just behind Ramirez with 19 points, including a career-high 10 free throws on 12 attempts. Freshman
Cameron Smith continues to lead the Maroons in rebounds, pulling down nine boards during the contest.
The Marlins were led by Chris Teasley, who topped all players with 24 points. Trent Batson led Virginia Wesleyan with eight rebounds, followed by Colby Heard and Greg Montgomery with five each.
Roanoke jumped on Virginia Wesleyan early, as Ramirez had five of the Maroons first nine points, putting Roanoke ahead 9-5 just four minutes into the game. The Maroons built their largest lead of the game of five points, just a few minutes later when Amponsah hit a three-pointer off of an
Alexander Weant pass. While the Marlins tried to fight back, the Maroons held the lead for the first 15 minutes of the contest, until Virginia Wesleyan's Tre' Ford hit a layup to go ahead 24-23 with 5:04 to play in the first period. Ramirez hit a layup of his own in the final moments of the half to bring the Maroons within two, 34-32 to end the half.
The Maroons came out of the locker room to start an 8-2 run to open up the second half, taking a 40-36 advantage just three minutes into the period. At 14:43,
Jordan Thacker hit a jumper to give Roanoke it's final lead of 46-44. Virginia Wesleyan built a lead of as many as nine points with five minutes to play, but Roanoke continued to battle. The Maroons went on a 8-2 run through the final minute, that started with a three pointer by Thacker, pulling Roanoke within 3, 70-67. But, free throws in the 25 seconds for the Marlins held off Roanoke and kept the #2 team in the nation undefeated at 4-0.
The Marlins outshot the Maroons 43.9% to 41.1%, as well as holding the advantage in rebounds 38-33. Virginia Wesleyan also topped Roanoke in assists (15-8) and blocks (8-2). Roanoke, however, did hold the edge in steals 12-7.
The Maroons return to action on Saturday, December 1
st as they play host to Eastern Mennonite University. Tip-off is scheduled for 2:00 PM in the Old Dominion Athletic Conference contest.
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