The Basics
Score:  #10 Roanoke 70 | Wartburg 66  
Records: Maroons 7-1 / 1-1 ODAC | Knights 9-2
Location: Fort Lauderdale, Fla. (Cruzin Classic)

The Lead: The Roanoke College men's basketball team took a pre-Christmas trip to Florida to compete in the 2021 Cruzin Classic. The Maroons took on Wartburg in the first of back-to-back games in the Sunshine State. Roanoke trailed by one at the break, 30-29, but rallied to a build a, double-digit, second half lead. A late surge by the Knights would trim the RC advantage to just four points, but the Maroons made a stop late to preserve the 70-66 victory.

How it Happened:

• Wartburg would take a one-point lead into the break. However, Roanoke would score the first hoop of the second half when Kasey Draper scored the first of consecutive baskets.
• With 10:50 remining in the contest, Efosa U-Edosomwan scored to give Roanoke a 50-46 edge.
• A Tripp Greene bucket gave the Maroons a 64-58 advantage heading into the final five minutes of play.
• U-Edosomwan scored to stretch the lead to 68-58 with just over two-minutes to go.
• A Knights run would make it close in the closing seconds. Trailing 70-62 in the final minute, a three-pointer by Wartburg made it 70-65 with just over 43 seconds left. With 30 ticks remaining, the Knights tied up the ball and took possession. Roanoke got a steal but missed the breakaway attempt and fouled with 10 seconds to go.
• Wartburg hit one of two but the rebound went off RC and the ball stayed with the Knights. On the ensuing play, the ball went to the corner and the Wartburg player stepped out of bounds. RC ran out the clock to hang on for the four-point victory.
• U-Edosomwan had a game high 25 while Draper finished with 14 points and eight boards.

Up next: The Maroons will take the court again tomorrow when they take on Dubuque at 2:00pm.