THE GAME FACTS

• Score:  Roanoke 65, Virginia Wesleyan 64
• Records:  Maroons 12-2, 5-0 ODAC; Marlins 11-3, 3-3 ODAC
• Location: Virginia Beach, Va.
• The Short Story: The Marlins of Virginia Wesleyan nearly erased the Roanoke men's basketball team's double-digit lead, but the Maroons' defense held on in the final minutes for the 65-64 win on the road. Justin Kuthan led Roanoke with 17 points.

HOW IT HAPPENED

• The two teams battled early with the Marlins holding a 9-8 lead just under four minutes into the contest. However, a pair of threes by Tripp Greene put the Maroons up by five less than two minutes later, 14-9.
• Both Roanoke and VWU went almost basket-for-basket over the next ten minutes with the Maroons holding an 11-point lead with 4:28 remaining before the break. A jumper by Omari Deveaux with 30 seconds left in the first half pulled the hosts within eight, 39-31 as the teams headed into the locker room.
• The Maroons maintained a seven to nine-point lead for most of the early part of the second half with the seven-point advantage with 10:20 remaining in the game. A free throw and a driving layup brought the Marlins within just two with 6:04 left.
• VWU went on an 8-5 run over the next 3:40 to pull within one point at 65-64 at 2:28. However both teams missed their final two, shot attempts with Deveaux missing a three-point attempt at the final horn to give the Maroons the victory.

BY THE NUMBERS

• Roanoke shot 48.2% from the field with the Marlins right behind with 45.6%.
• Both teams struggled from beyond the arc with the Marlins just making three of their 15 (20%) attempts.
• Roanoke led the home team in assists (12-11), bench points (26-11), and points off turnovers (11-9).
• Three Maroons reached double figures led by Kuthan's 17 points. Both Efosa U-Edosomwan (16) and Greene (11) scored 10+ points.
• Both Kuthan and Kasey Draper grabbed seven rebounds while U-Edosomwan and Marcus Morgan each added four boards.

UP NEXT

• The Maroons finish up a two-game road trip with an ODAC contest on Wednesday, January 11 at ODAC newcomer Averett. Tip-off with the Cougars is scheduled for 7 p.m. in Danville.