The Roanoke College men’s basketball team will open the Old Dominion Athletic Conference tournament at home next Tuesday against an opponent to be determined. At press time the Maroons were in third place in the ODAC standings with two games to go.
The top eight teams in the 12 team ODAC make the post-season tournament with the top four getting a home game for the quarterfinals. The semifinals and final are at the Salem Civic Center on February 27 and March 1.
As of Tuesday the Maroons were in third place with a 10-4 conference record, with Randolph-Macon and Virginia Wesleyan tied for first at 12-2 each. Lynchburg was fourth at 9-5 and the Maroons were scheduled to host the Hornets on Wednesday. An RC win would clinch third but a Lynchburg win would give Roanoke and Lynchburg 10-5 records each in the ODAC and a split of the season series, so a tie-breaker would ensue.
Roanoke’s final game of the regular season is Saturday at home against Randolph, who is just 1-13 in ODAC games. Lynchburg will host Virginia Wesleyan Saturday so that could be a factor in the final standings as well.
Who the Maroons would open with is anyone’s guess. Washington & Lee, Hampden-Sydney and Averett are all possibilities but it won’t be known until after Saturday’s games are concluded.
The Maroons had a chance to clinch third place last week but were upset by Guilford in Salem, 89-85, on February 11. The Maroons bounced back with a 62-57 win over Shenandoah at the Cregger Center on Saturday afternoon to hold on to the third spot. The win was the 300th career coaching win for RC coach Clay Nunley, who has a 300-193 record with stints at Randolph College and Roanoke College. Now in his 10th season at RC Nunley has a 177-77 record with the Maroons.
Roanoke held just a two-point lead at the half against Shenandoah but a 24-9 run in the second half opened a 55-38 lead with just under seven minutes to go. A late rally by the Hornets came up short as Roanoke held on for the win.
RC senior Marcus Morgan had 21 points, 10 rebounds, four assists and two steals, shooting 8-of-12 from the floor. Gavin O’Malley had 11 points and five rebounds and Jackson Bell netted nine points with three steals.
At 17-6 overall the Maroons are ranked 21st nationally in Division III.
