CLEVELAND, Ohio --- Thiel pulled away late to defeat Roanoke, 90-82 in the consolation game of the Bill Sudeck Holiday Classic hosted by Case Western on Wednesday afternoon. The Tomcats improved to 4-6 on the season while the Maroons dropped to 4-5 overall to close the 2009 portion of their schedule.

Kendrick Chittock (Auburn, OH, University School), who was named to the all-tournament team after the game, led Roanoke with 17 points, including 3-of-5 from three-point range. The Maroons had four players score in double-figures for the second-straight day.

The difference in the game came in the frontcourt, as the Maroons were outscored, 48-20 in the paint which also led to a 19-11 advantage in second chance scoring. Thiel was hot in the second half, shooting 58.1% from the field (18-for-31) which helped seal its fourth win of the season.

In a tightly contested game with 11 ties and eight lead changes, Roanoke held a 41-39 lead at the half as the Maroons shot 50% from the floor. Both teams traded baskets nearly the entire first half as neither team held a lead larger than five points. Down two with 1:53 left, the Maroons scored six of the final eight points as Melvin Felix (Caguas, Puerto Rico, Salem)sank four-consecutive free throws during that span to give his team the halftime lead.

Roanoke held its slim lead over the first six minutes of the second half before Thiel took the lead for good off a Devon Adams three-pointer to make it, 55-53 with 13:54 remaining.

After a Chittock three-pointer made it 68-66 with 7:59 remaining, the Tomcats went on a 9-2 run over the next three minutes to push its lead to 77-68. A three-pointer by Michael McGeough (Danville, VA, George Washington)and a layup by Corey Poindexter (Pulaski, VA, Pulaski County/Hargrave)cut the Maroon deficit to within five with two minutes remaining, but would not get closer as Thiel went on another 9-2 run to pull away late.

Logan Singleton (Roanoke, VA, Hidden Valley)finished with 14 points (7-of-14 shooting) and seven rebounds as McGeough tossed in 11 points. Parrish Walker (Greensboro, NC, Dudley)totaled 12 points, four steals and a career-best 10 assists for his first career double-double. It's the first time a Maroon has eclipsed 10 assists in a game since Nathan Hungate dished out 10 against Hampden-Sydney during the 1997-98 season. Matt Crizer (Covington, VA, Alleghany)added eight points while pulling down a team-high eight rebounds.

The men will come back to Salem and will host the Morris Cregger Invitational this weekend, Jan. 2-3. The 5:00 p.m. will feature the Panthers of nearby Ferrum College (5-4) against Defiance College (OH) which is currently 8-2 on the season. The 7:00 p.m. contest will have the Battling Bishops of Ohio Wesleyan take on the Maroons in game two of the new year's classic.

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