Posted: Feb 27, 2009
SALEM, Va. --- Hampden-Sydney College shot better than 50-percent from the field for the game as they held on to defeat Roanoke College, 70-65, in the fourth quarterfinal of the 2009 ODAC Men's Basketball Tournament. The Tigers improve to 14-13 while the Maroons finish their season with a 19-7 overall record.
The loss for Roanoke, the tournament's third seed, comes on the heels of early exits by Guilford College and Randolph-Macon College, the event's top two seeds. It marks the first time in ODAC Men's Basketball Tournament history that at least one of the top three seats did not advance out of the quarterfinal round.
In ODAC quarterfinal contests, the Tigers own a 5-1 advantage over the Maroons, with RC's only win coming in 1984. H-SC ended Roanoke's season in five of the last six years in the ODAC Tournament, four times in the quarterfinals.
Hampden-Sydney led by 15 points at the half thanks to both a 52-percent showing from the a field and a defensive effort that held Roanoke to 25-percent shooting in the opening frame. The Tigers lead grew to as many as 23 points in the second half at 51-28 with 13:17 to play.
Roanoke rode four-straight three-pointers from Drew Gaeng (previously 0-of-5 from deep) as part of a 34-13 run over the next 11-plus minutes to pull within two at 64-62 with 1:39 to go. Hampden-Sydney increased its lead from the foul line amidst several attempts by Roanoke to pull closer and take the lead. H-SC's advantage hit seven points with 21 seconds to play following a free throw from a Tuner King, providing a cushion through to the final horn.
Shane Payne led all scorers and four Tigers in double figures with 16 points on 6-of-7 shooting including a 3-for-3 showing from the line. He added seven rebounds to his totals. King turned in 13 points to go with eight boars. Ben Jessee registered 12 points on 4-of-7 shooting, and Lane Medlin stuck three three-pointers on his way to 11 markers.
Curtis Peery led Roanoke with 16 points, hitting all six of his shots from the line before fouling out late in the game. Gaeng finished the night with 15 points, all coming on five three-pointers in the second half. Parrish Walker collected 11 points to go with four rebounds and four steals.
Peery finished his illustrious career with 1,349 points, which is 12th all-time at Roanoke, sixth all-time in the NCAA-era (1979). His 304 career free-throws made are 10th all-time, seventh in the NCAA-era. His 18 free-throws made against Lynchburg were the most by a Div. III-era player at Roanoke and third all-time. His 18.4 points per game average was the highest by a Maroon since Robby Pridgen in 2002-03 (21 ppg).
Aaron Tyson left Roanoke seventh all-time in career blocked shots with 73. His 38 blocks this season ties him for sixth with Bryant Lee '95 on that list. Gaeng's 38.7 career-three-point percentage ranks him seventh all-time at Roanoke.
The loss ends the Maroons season, but not before setting single-season marks such as 19 wins (most since 2000-01), 13-game win-streak (longest since 1999-00), 14-1 start (best since 1999-00) and claiming three regular season tournament championships. They were ranked or received votes in the top-25, as high as #18 in the country at one point in the season. It was the highest ranking for the Maroons since 2000.
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