Posted: Jan 02, 2015
With the win, the Maroons advance to the Championship game of the Cregger Classic, taking on Swarthmore College, who defeated Eastern University 73-65 in the 2:00 PM game.
Roanoke was led in scoring by Andrew Daniels, who finished the contest with 21 points. This is his second highest scoring game of the season, having put up 22 points against Southern Virginia on November 21st. He shot 6-12 from the field, including a 3-9 mark from behind the arc. Daniel Eacho put together a double-double of 20 points and 11 rebounds for the Maroons. With his 20 points, Each moves into 26th all-time at Roanoke College in scoring, tallying 1087 points and passing Brad Dunleavy '01 (1079). He also moves into sole possession of 15th all-time in rebounding for the Maroons, passing Ken Belton '81 (608) with 619 rebounds, just one shy of passing Rick Weber '80 (620).
Roanoke trailed early to New Paltz 10-8 in the first five minutes of the opening half, as Kevin Roach scored seven of the Hawks' 10 points during that span. However, Eacho turned around and hit two back-to-back layups to put the Maroons ahead at the 13:22 mark. Roach and RJ Rosa would combine for another eight points in the next three minutes to reclaim the lead for New Paltz, 20-18. The Maroons took the lead back with 6:57 to play as Daniels hit a jumper to put the Maroons up by two, 25-23. Roanoke held the advantage for the remainder of the first half, as Daniels and Weant knocked down two free throws each in the final minutes of the period, to go ahead by six, 33-27. However, New Paltz's Rosa hit a three pointer with 13 seconds to play, cutting Roanoke's lead in half, 33-30, entering the locker room.
Roach opened the second half with a trey to tie the game at 33-33 with 19 minutes left to play. Roanoke and New Paltz would go back and forth over the next two minutes, with Daniels matching the Hawks' trey. New Paltz led by two with 16:39 on the clock, but Eacho hit a jumper to tie the game at 40-40. Cameron Smith took the lead for Roanoke with a layup on the next Maroon possession. This would secure the advantage for Roanoke, which they would not give up for the remainder of the contest. On the work of Smith, Eacho and Daniels, Roanoke went on a 9-0 run that put Roanoke up by 11, 59-48 with 7:23 to play. Each time the Hawks would hit a shot, the Maroons answered with one of their own, including another trey from Daniels, and two jump shots from Eacho. With two minutes to play, Taylor Sowah and Eric Regenbogen combined for eight points to the Maroons' two, cutting the Roanoke advantage to six points with 51 seconds to play. However, Roanoke held New Paltz scoreless in the final 50 seconds, adding two free throws of their own to pick up the 77-69 win on Friday.
The Hawks had four players in double-figures. Taylor Sowah led the team with 17 points, off of 6-14 shooting. He finished with six rebounds and six assists. R.J. Rosa finished the game with 16 points, while also putting up six rebounds and six assists. Kevin Roach tallied 15 points, followed by Eric Regenbogen with 12 points. Andrew Seniuk led the team with nine rebounds.
The Maroons return to action on Saturday, January 3rd as they take on Swarthmore in the Championship game of the 2015 Cregger Classic. That contest is scheduled for a 2:00 PM start. The consolation game between Eastern University and SUNY New Paltz will begin at noon. There will be a third game, as the women's team takes on Goucher at a scheduled time of 4:00 PM, after the Cregger Classic concludes.
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