Guilford Holds Off Roanoke in Men’s Semis

Quakers Reach First MBB Championship Game

March 1, 2008  -  Box Score

Salem, Va. ---  Ben Strong scored 18 points and grabbed 11 rebounds in top-seeded Guilford College's 67-57 win over number-four Roanoke College Saturday night in the Old Dominion Athletic Conference (ODAC) Tournament semifinals at the Salem Civic Center.

The Quakers (23-4) advance to their first ODAC Tournament final against the winner of Saturday night's second semifinal between second-seeded Virginia Wesleyan College and number-six Hampden-Sydney College.  Ranked 12th in this week's D3hoops.com Top 25 Poll, Guilford has won 15 straight games, the team's longest streak since the 1969-70 club won 29 in a row. Roanoke's season ends with an 18-9 record.

 

The tightly played game featured eight ties, including a 26-26 deadlock at halftime. The teams were knotted at 40 midway through the second half before Guilford got some breathing room with a Caleb Kimbrough three-pointer followed by a Clay Henson basket that opened a 50-44 spread with 7:07 remaining in regulation.

 

Consecutive baskets by Curtis Peery kept Roanoke within 52-48 with 5:50 left before a 6-0 Guilford spurt opened a 58-48 margin with 3:40 to play.  Marvin Felix's three-pointer with 1:53 left made it a 60-53 game, but the Maroons missed four shots and turned the ball over once over its next four possessions. Guilford built its lead to 14 by making six-of-seven free throws in the final minute.

 

The Quakers started the week ranked first in NCAA Division III in rebounding margin and enjoyed a 51-31 advantage on the glass against the Maroons. Guilford grabbed 16 offensive caroms, leading to 19 points. Roanoke's nine offensive boards resulted in six points.  The Quakers outscored Roanoke in the paint, 40-16, thanks in part to Strong, the ODAC's Player of the Year, who logged his 20th double-double of the season. Classmate Eric Belkoski scored eight of his 13 points in the second half and had nine rebounds.  Kimbrough finished with 11 points, nine in the second half.

 

Roanoke used six three pointers to stay close in the first half, but made just two-of-12 shots from beyond the arc in the second period. Felix paced the Maroons' offense with 14 points off the bench. Peery finished with 12 points and seven rebounds. A.J. Dowell scored five points and dealt a game-best seven assists.

This release is courtesy of the Guilford College sports information office (D. Walters)