Posted: Jan 14, 2015
Junior Carter Wright, who is averaging 8.5 points per game, led the Maroons in scoring on Wednesday evening, netting 11 points. Wright shot 75 percent from the free throw line, hitting 6-8 from the stripe. Andrew Daniels also finished in double-figures, putting up 10 points with four rebounds and four assists. Daniel Eacho, Roanoke's leading scorer (14.8 PPG), was just one point and rebound shy of a double-double with nine points and nine boards. Julian Ramirez also tied Daniels with four assists on the evening.
Roanoke has lost three of its last four games by two points or less, and in two of those games, Roanoke outscored its opponent in the second half. The Maroons outscored the Generals 36-34 in the second half. The Maroons shot 42.3 percent from the field, and held a mark of 80 percent from the free throw line, which is the team's second highest mark from the charity stripe this season. Roanoke also outrebounded Washington and Lee 33-30.
Roanoke jumped out to an early lead in the contest, as Carter Wright got the scoring started with a three-pointer just 30 seconds into the game. Roanoke's lead built as the Maroons started the game on a 9-2 run, as Daniels, Cameron Smith and Ramirez all scored in the opening three minutes. In the first five minutes, Roanoke led by four, 11-7, until Andy Kleinlein hit a trey for the Generals to cut the Maroon lead to one. Roanoke went on a 7-0 run, capped by a layup by Joey Miller, pushing the Roanoke lead to 17-10.
Washington and Lee spent the next eight minutes going on a 10-2 run, taking a one point, 20-19 lead with 4:54 to play. The next trip down the floor, Alexander Weant hit a jumper to reclaim the lead for the Maroons. But, Patrick O'Connor hit a trey to take the lead back for W&L once again. With 2:28 to play in the half, John Fitchett hit a jumper to put the Maroons ahead again. However Andy Kleinlein scored the final five points of the half, as Washington & Lee entered halftime with a 28-24 lead.
The first two minutes were scoreless for either team in the second half until Clayton Murtha tipped a shot in to push the Generals' lead to six, 30-24. Cameron Smith immediately hit a three-pointer to cut the deficit in half to three points. The Maroons continued to make plays to stay within one point. Daniel Eacho and Andrew Daniels hit old-fashioned three-point plays, getting within one, 36-35 with 14:49 to play. Washington and Lee pulled off a 10-2 run, with five points each coming from Murtha and Andrew Franz. The Maroons started to make a comeback with 8:11 to play, starting with an three-point play by Alex Weant. Carter Wright followed with a layup and Daniels and Ramirez hit back to back three pointers. With 5:38 to play, Roanoke trailed by two, 54-52.
Joey Miller tied the game at 54-54 with a tip in, while Murtha hit a jumper to reclaim the lead for W&L. As Roanoke trailed by three, Daniel Eacho hit a pair of free throws, then followed with a jumper at 3:12 to take a 58-57 lead. Murtha hit a jumper a few seconds later, followed by a pair of Kleinlein free throws to give the Generals a three point, 61-58 lead. Daniels hit a jumper at 1:16, getting within one, but that would be the final basket for the Maroons, as Kleinlein finished off the game with a free throw. Roanoke was narrowly defeated on Wednesday, 62-60.
Washington & Lee also had two players finish in double figures. Clayton Murtha shot 50 percent from the field, hitting 6-12 to lead all players with 17 points. Andy Kleinlein tallied 11 points on the evening, dishing out six assists to lead all players in the category.
The Maroons return to action on Saturday, January 17th as they host Randolph-Macon in the Bast Center. That contest is scheduled for a 2:00 PM start.
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