WINCHESTER – Senior Julian Ramirez was just two points shy of his career-high as he scored 25 points in Roanoke's 87-78 win over Shenandoah on Saturday.  The Maroons now move to 8-12, 3-8 in ODAC play, while the Hornets are 2-18, 1-10 in the ODAC.
 
Ramirez shot 7-9 from the floor and hit an impressive 10-14 from the free throw line to help secure his 25-point night.  Ramirez' previous high single-game total this season has been a trio of 15 point games, most recently against Bridgewater on January 24^th.  Daniel Eacho put together a double-double of 16 points and 11 rebounds for his third double-double of the season.  His last double-double was a 20 point, 11 rebound day against SUNY-New Paltz on January 3^rd.  Roanoke's rebound leader, Cameron Smith, finished the game with 10 rebounds, as well as three assists, two blocks and one steal.
 
Also in double-figures for the Maroons were John Fitchett and Andrew Daniels.  Fitchett finished the game with 15 points and four rebounds, shooting 5-11 from the floor.  He also had two assists and one steal.  Daniels put up 14 points against the Hornets, also shooting 5-11, hitting 2-5 from behind the arc.
 
Roanoke jumped out to an early 7-2 lead over the Hornets after Ramirez started the scoring with a layup while, Daniels knocked down a trey and a jumper in the first two minutes.  After Shenandoah's Malcolm Clark scored four points, Roanoke went on an 11-2 run that ran through the 11:41 mark.  During that span, Eacho scored six of the Maroons 11 points.  After a Ramirez layup, the Hornets went on a run of their own, putting together a 12-4 run of their own to get back within three, 24-21 with 7:35 to play in the first half.  Roanoke was able to keep the Hornets at bay through the first half, despite Shenandoah getting within one, 28-27 after three free throws by Patterson.  While leading by five with five minutes to play, Ramirez knocked down a three-pointer to get the game rolling again for the Maroons.  Joey Miller followed shortly after with a three of his own, while Eacho hit a jumper to put Roanoke ahead by 13, 40-27 with 2:54 to play.  Fitchett joined in on the party with a three of his own, capping the run at 11 points and a lead of 16 with two minutes on the clock.  Shenandoah hit a pair of baskets to close the first half, but Roanoke's lead was 12 points, 43-31 as the teams entered the locker room.
 
The Hornets started to battle back in the opening minutes of the half, with Nik Stewart hitting a three pointer in the first 30 seconds.  Eacho and Fitchett each answered with baskets of their own to widen the lead to 13 points.  Ramirez hit a layup to start a five point run of his own at the 14:07 mark, putting the Maroons up by 15, 60-45 with 11:15 to play.  Shenandoah's Clark went for six straight points, cutting Roanoke's advantage to 11, with 9:30 to play.  Patterson also put together four points to get the Hornets within seven, 62-55.  Daniels put an end to the Shenandoah run with a three-pointer at 8:31, while Ramirez hit a layup a minute later to raise the lead back to 12 points.  With four minutes to play, Ramirez hit five of six free throws, holding the Roanoke lead at 12 points, after a small Shenandoah run.  While the Hornets got the game back within nine in the final minutes, the Maroons hit 11-of-12 from the free throw line in the final 1:07 to secure the victory for Roanoke, picking up a 87-78 ODAC victory.
 
The Hornets were led by Malcolm Clark, who finished with 24 points, shooting 10-14 from the field. Clark also put together five rebounds, four steals and three assists.  Aaron Paterson tallied 19 points, including a 7-8 mark from the free throw line.  Xavier Alston had 11 points, as did Antwan Pittman.  Pittman finished with six rebounds and two assists.
 
The Maroons outshot the Hornets 45.9 to 43.8 percent from the field, as well as 38.5 to 22.7 from behind the arc.  Roanoke went 81 percent from the free throw line, their second highest mark this season.  The Maroons held the rebounding advantage 44-34, as well as assists, 15-10. 
 
Roanoke returns to action as it takes on Randolph College on February 7^th.  That contest, which is a part of the Roanoke College Basketball Alumni Day, is scheduled for a 3:30 PM start.
 
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