The Basics
Score: Roanoke 66 | Hampden-Sydney 55
Records: Maroons 1-1, 1-0 ODAC | Tigers 0-1, 0-1 ODAC
Location: Salem, Va.

The Lead: After opening play for the 20-21 season on Tuesday night, Roanoke College played host to their arch rivals from Hampden-Sydney on Saturday afternoon. The Maroons raced out to a 10-0 start and never trailed taking their Old Dominion Athletic Conference (ODAC) opener over the Tigers, 66-55. 

How it Happened:

• The Maroons would win the opening tip and Efosa Edosomwan made one of two from the stripe to start the scoring.
• A Tripp Greene triple would see RC begin the afternoon on a 7-0 surge and after Brandon Ellington added a three-pointer, the Roanoke lead would be double digits before their guests would score.
• With 5:30 to play in the first half, Trent Dawson hit a jump shot to stake Roanoke to their largest lead of the first 20 minutes, 26-12.
• An 11-3 Tigers run would trim the deficit to six (29-23) heading into the final minutes of the half. Two Edosomwan free throws would make it a 33-25 score at the break.
• The two long time rivals would go back and forth to start the second half before six straight points from Kasey Draper would once again push the advantage into double digits and after another Ellington long ball, the Maroons had matched their biggest lead of the first half, 46-32.
• After Edosomwan pushed the lead to 15, Hampden-Sydney went on a 7-0 run of their own to make it an eight point game with just over nine minutes to play.
• However, Roanoke would put the game away by scoring 12 of the next 16 points to push their advantage to 61-45 with two and a half minutes left to play.
• Draper notched a double-double with 16 points and 10 rebounds. Dawson and Edosomwan each scored 14 with Ellington adding nine. Ethan Rohan added 10 rebounds, helping Roanoke enjoy a 43-40 edge on the glass. Dawson handed out four of the Maroon's 11 assists with Rohan erasing four Tiger shots.
• Jake Hahn netted a game high 20 and freshman DJ Wright added 13 for the Tigers off the bench.

 Up next: Roanoke College will play their second of three ODAC home games in a row when they welcome Ferrum to the Cregger Center on Thursday night. The game with the Panthers is scheduled to tip at 7:00pm.