The Game Facts:
Score: No. 2 Emory 83, No. 18 Roanoke 81 OT
Location: Atlanta, Ga. – Woodruff PE Center Arena

The Short story:  The Roanoke College men's basketball team dropped a heartbreaker Saturday in the second round of the NCAA Division III Tournament, 83-81 to Emory University in overtime.

Exactly a week after knocking off the No. 1 team in the nation, Randolph-Macon College in the Old Dominion Athletic Conference Championship game, the Maroons took the No. 2 ranked team in NCAA Division III to overtime.

Junior guard Jackson Bell hit a jumper with 27 seconds left in the five-minute extra session to put RC ahead 81-80. Emory's Ethan Fauss connected on a three-pointer with 12 seconds remaining and blocked a Maroon three-point attempt as the game clock ran down to seal the win.

Roanoke finishes the 2025-26 season 23-7. The Maroons won the program's first conference title since 1999-20 and advanced to the NCAA Tournament for the second-straight year.



How it happened:  
*The Maroons couldn't ask for a better start, jumping out to a 6-0 lead behind two inside baskets from senior Marcus Morgan.
*After a Morgan traditional three-point play, RC led 12-5 just over three minutes into the game.
*The Eagles took a 29-28 lead, but a Bell three pointer put the Maroons back ahead with 7:55 left in the first half.
*After trailing 48-47, Roanoke scored the final eight points of the half, four by Tyler Barnes, to go ahead 55-48 at intermission.  
*Emory scored the first six points after the break but Bell stopped the run with a three pointer.   
*The two defenses came up big at the end of regulation, allowing no points from the 3:22 mark until 1.3 seconds left. RC trailed 75-74, but Ryan Truitt was fouled and connected on one of two free throws to force overtime.

Inside the numbers:
*Morgan compiled 18 points, nine rebounds, five assists and three steals.
*Bell scored 20 points and hit four three pointers.
*Porter Stanley finished with 11 points and six rebounds and Grant Hamilton also scored 11.
*Caleb Franze finished with seven points and three assists.
*Ben Pearce had game-highs of 29 points and eight assists for Emory (24-3) with seven rebounds.
*Jair Knight posted 24 points and nine rebounds for the Eagles.   

Next time:
Emory advances into the Sweet 16 to play the winner of Yeshiva University (N.Y.) at a time and place to be determined.