Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: TUESDAY, February 12, 1991 TAG: 9102120285
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C3 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: JOHN SMALLWOOD SPORTSWRITER
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
Guilford, with no seniors and three freshman starters, gave Roanoke College a run, but youthful exuberance wasn't enough as the Maroons took control in the final eight minutes and won 94-87 in a non-conference basketball game on Monday night.
Senior forward Robert Lineburg led seven Maroons in double figures with 24 points, and senior guard Ron Pendleton had 12 assists to reach double figures in that category for the third game in a row. Perhaps not coincidentally, Roanoke (12-11) won its third straight.
"Guilford is a gutty team with a lot of young players," Roanoke coach Page Moir said. "They wouldn't quit, but I don't think our guys wanted to lose on Senior Night. We got some big plays from our seniors. A lot of different guys contributed tonight."
Although the seniors were steady, it was freshman Hilary Scott who came to the front for Roanoke during the decisive point in the game.
Guilford (6-15) used a 10-2 run to cut a 10-point deficit to 67-65 with just under eight minutes remaining. But Scott, who scored 11 points, sank a 15-footer, then assisted Derek Otten on a layup. Rick Becker followed up a Scott miss to put Roanoke up 73-65.
Scott then matched two buckets by the Quakers, forcing them into a timeout with 5:10 left. The damage was done. Guilford got no closer than five the rest of the way.
The Maroons made 11 of 12 free throws in the final four minutes, including six in a row by senior Cary Gentry. Pendleton put an exclamation point on the game by throwing a alley-oop pass for a dunk by fellow senior John Swartz with six seconds left.
"I wanted to dunk it myself, but there was a defender in my way," Pendleton said. "I figured I give it to Swartz because all he ever wants to do is block shots and dunk anyway. We were a little nervous before the game, and Guilford wouldn't let us get away.
"We took a few bad shots to let them back in, but then we played a smart game late and that was the difference."
Roanoke shot 63.3 percent in the second half and committed just four turnovers. Becker scored 13 points and Gentry 12. Pendleton, Swartz and Otten scored 10 each.
Senior Rodney Spickard didn't score, but did have two of Roanoke's 24 assists.
Brad McCorkle led Guilford with a game-high 27 points, and Michael Wright added 17.
GUILFORD MW FGFTRAFPT Sanford 0-20-01110Ferrell 5-80-037211Streng 3-71-11029Wright 6-145-691417Ricketts 1-60-01023Brown 4-102-390010McCorkle 11-155-563327Emanuel 5-100-030110Capers 0-00-01020Totals 35-7213-1535121787 ROANOKE MW FGFTRAFPTSpickard 0-30-02200Gentry 2-46-602012Jones 1-20-00102Scott 5-81-233211Martin 1-20-00102Lineburg 11-182-433124Becker 4-95-660213Pendleton 3-72-2512110Otten 4-52-260410Swartz 3-54-430410Name 0-00-01000Totals 34-6322-2633241494Rebounds include team rebounds Score by periods: Guilford37-50-87 Roanoke39-55-94
Three-point goals - Guilford: Ferrell 1-1, Streng 2-5, Ricketts 1-2, Total 4-8. Roanoke: Spickard 0-1, Gentry 2-4, Jones 0-1, Pendleton 2-6, Total 4-12.
Turnovers - Guilford 16 (McCorkle 4); Roanoke 16 (Lineburg 4). Blocked shots - Guilford 1 (Ferrell); Roanoke 5 (Swartz 3). Steals - Guilford 4; Roanoke 8 (Gentry 3).
Attendance - 457.
by CNB