The Basics
Score: #9 Roanoke 50 | #3 Randolph-Macon 62
Records: Maroons 6-1 / 1-1 ODAC | Yellow Jackets 8-1 / 2-0 ODAC
Location: Salem, Va.
The Lead: Two of the top 10 teams in the nation took the court at the Cregger Center when 9th ranked Roanoke played host to #3 Randolph-Macon in an early season Old Dominion Athletic Conference (ODAC) showdown. The game would be tied mid-way through the first half with the visitors enjoying a two-point lead, 27-25, at the break. The first five-minutes of the second half would belong to Macon as the Yellow Jackets used a 17-3 surge to take control. Roanoke would get to within 10 but as the final horn sounded RMC picked up the ODAC win, 62-50.
How it Happened:
- Randolph-Macon scored first and held the lead until a Brandon Ellington layup tied the score at 10-10. With 10:44 left in the first half, Justin Kuthan converted a layup and finished off the 3-ponit play with a free throw to give RC a 15-12 edge.
- Two-minutes later, Ellinington hit one of two from the stripe to give the Maroons their largest lead of the afternoon, 18-14. After a RMC rally, Kasey Draper hit a jump shot to tie the game at 20-20, it would be the final tie of the afternoon as Randolph-Macon used a 5-0 spurt to put themselves in front to stay.
- Down five, Nick Price scored from long range to make it 27-25 at the half.
- After another Price three-pointer, 31-28, the Yellow Jackets scored the next 15 points to take control.
- In the final minute, Kuthan cut the deficit to 10 but Roanoke could get no closer as Randolph-Macon took the top 10 matchup, 62-50.
- Draper finished with a game high 19 points while adding four rebounds, two assists and a steal. Kuthan and Zach Rosenthal came off the bench to each score seven points as Roanoke did enjoy a 19-5 edge in bench points. Ethan Rohan tied for game-high honors with seven boards with Kuthan adding five.
Up next: The Maroons will be off through the exam period before taking a pre-Christmas trip to Florida to compete in the Cruzin Classic in Fort Lauderdale on December 19-20th.
