Posted: Jan 17, 2015
Andrew Daniels led the team in scoring on the afternoon, putting up 13 points on 5-10 shooting. Daniels hit three of five from behind the arc, hitting three of the team's five three pointers in the contest. Cameron Smith just missed getting a double-double, netting 10 points and pulling own nine boards. He also finished with two assists and two blocks. Julian Ramirez and Carter Wright each finished with nine points, as Carter Wright went perfect from the free throw line hitting five of five. Ramirez led the team in assists with four. Alex Weant finished the game with six rebounds, which ranked second on the squad for the day.
Roanoke faced a tough opponent in #16 ranked Randolph-Macon, one of two ODAC schools in the d3hoops.com poll (Virginia Wesleyan – 8th). The Yellow Jackets got off to an 8-2 start to the day, with Joe Hassell scoring four of the first eight points. Andrew Daniels broke up the Randolph-Macon scoring with a three pointer, but was promptly answered by Chris Hamilton who had one of his own for the Yellow Jackets.
Roanoke trailed by eight again at the 16:19 mark in the first half, but Daniel Eacho, Daniels, Weant and Ramirez combined for a 9-2 run to get within one, 15-14 within a four minute span. However, the Yellow Jackets spent the next three minutes on a 12-0 run, to go ahead by 13 with 9:09 to play in the half. Through the first 16 minutes of the first half, Randolph-Macon led 43-21. Ramirez hit a layup at 2:57 to cut the deficit to 20, which he followed up with two free throws just a few seconds later. Andrew Daniels knocked down a three pointer at 2:13 to help the Maroons build momentum in the closing moments of the first half. Wright and Daniels would each hit one more basket as Roanoke trailed 55-32 at halftime.
Roanoke found the basket quickly in the second half, as Eacho, Daniels and Wright combined for 10 points in the first three minutes of the period. Wright tallied five points from a layup and three free throws, while Daniels hit his third three-pointer of the afternoon. Cameron Smith hit an old fashioned three pointer play at 16:20 to get the Maroons back within 20, which started to spur a run for the Maroons. Weant hit a jumper with Smith followed with a layup. John Fitchett hit a three-pointer with an assist by freshman Joey Miller. Ramirez made a free throw while Bradley came in with a layup as Roanoke went on a 13-2 run, now trailing 67-55 with 12:21 to play.
But it was the Yellow Jackets going on a 14-3 run of their own, which was capped by back-to-back three pointers, that kept the Maroons at bay. Randolph-Macon's lead over the Maroons held through the remainder of the contest, but the Maroons kept hitting baskets to the final seconds. With two minutes to play, Roanoke outscored Randolph 10-5, with Dustin Hassell scoring a three-pointer as the final field goal of the game. Roanoke fell at home 101-73 to the #16th ranked team in the nation.
The Yellow Jackets were led by Chris Hamilton, who finished with 22 points on the evening. He shot 7-9 from the field, including a 5-7 clip from behind the arc. Akeem Homes and Lamont Moore each finished with 12 points apiece, and Moore led the team in rebounds with six.
The Maroons shot 39.7 percent from the field, as well as 75.0 percent from the free throw line. The Yellow Jackets narrowly held the advantage in rebounds, 37-36, while Roanoke led in points in the paint, 32-28.
The Maroons return to action on Wednesday, January 21st as the y travel to take on Emory & Henry in ODAC competition. That contest is scheduled for a 7:00 PM start.
FIND US ON SOCIAL MEDIA
We just reached 2,754 fans on Facebook, but we're trying to have the most followers in the ODAC. So, don't forget to become a fan of Maroon Athletics on Facebook. You can also follow us on Twitter @rcmaroons. Be sure to check out Roanoke Athletics' YouTube Channel on our athletics home page and watch various highlight clips from our home games. To keep up to date with Maroon athletics from your mobile phone, click HERE to access the mobile app.
CAN'T MAKE IT TO THE GAME? WATCH IT ONLINE!
Have you seen our brand new Live Game Portal. Click HERE to watch live webcasts of each scheduled home athletic event, along with Live Stats which have now been integrated into the live video feed. Also, share your thoughts on Twitter by posting to @rcmaroons or using the featured hashtag in the live video portal!
