THE GAME FACTS

• Score:  Roanoke 94, Methodist 55
• Records:  Maroons 10-1; Monarchs 0-10
• Location:  Salem, Va. – Cregger Center
• The Short Story: Zach Rosenthal had a game-high 25 points to lead the Roanoke men's basketball team to a 94-55 win over Methodist in the opening game of the 2022 Cregger Invitational. The Maroons led 40-29 at the half before leading by as many as 41 in the second half.

HOW IT HAPPENED

• After Kasey Draper knocked down the first basket of the game, the Monarchs responded with a three to take their only lead of the game at 19:34. 20 seconds later, Marcus Morgan hit a layup that allowed Roanoke to take the lead for good. Including the Morgan layup, the Maroons went on a 10-0 run to take a 12-3 lead at 16:01.
• Much of the rest of the first half the Maroons led by as many as 12, but Methodist pulled within seven at 7:13. The Maroons quickly reestablished a 10-point lead. The Monarchs once again got the lead down to single digits with a pair of free-throws with just five seconds left. However, a heave from 3/4 quarter court by Draper went in to give Roanoke the 11 point advantage at the break.
• The second half started off as a back and forth competition with Methodist making a layup at 15:09 to pull within 11 of the Maroons, 52-41. Over the next five minutes, the Maroons would once again reestablish a strong lead, going on a 15-4 run to give themselves a 22 point lead at 67-45. The next five minutes proved to be the stopper in any potential comeback with another 21-7 run, culminated by a Justin Kuthan dunk at 5:10 to give Roanoke the 78-52 lead.
• The Maroons finished the game on a 16-3 run to finish the game 94-55.

BY THE NUMBERS

• Roanoke shot 56.9% from the floor on 33-for-58 shooting. The Maroons made just under 50% of threes (12-for-25) while holding the Monarchs to just 29.4% from beyond the arc.
• The Maroons led Methodist in several categories including rebounds (44-26), assists (21-8), second chance points (14-2), points in the paint (38-22), fast break points (20-6), and bench points.
• Over the final 15:09 of the game, Roanoke outscored the Monarchs 42-14.
• Rosenthal led all scorers with 25 points, but Draper also reached the 20+ mark with 21 of his own. Kuthan was the third Maroons to reach double figures with 12 points.
• In just two minutes of play late in the second half, Jack Brestel scored five during a key stretch to prevent Methodist from attempting a comeback.
• 11 different Roanoke players scored with 12 grabbing a rebound.

UP NEXT

• The Maroons will take on NYU in the championship game of the Cregger Invitational on Friday, December 30. Tip-off with the Violets is scheduled for 2 p.m.
• NYU advanced to the championship with a 78-60 win over Hanover (Ind.) in the second game on Thursday. The Violets are 10-0 on the season.