BECKER CARRIES MAROONS

                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: TUESDAY, January 14, 1992                   TAG: 9201140142
SECTION: SPORTS                    PAGE: B5   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: JOHN SMALLWOOD SPORTSWRITER
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Medium
BECKER CARRIES MAROONS
When one of his players starts to "feel it," Roanoke College coach Page Moir knows to stick with him.
Monday night at Bast Center, forward Rick Becker was riding a groove. The Maroons tagged along for the ride in a 91-82 Old Dominion Athletic Conference basketball victory over Lynchburg.
Becker, a 6-foot-8 junior out of Christiansburg High, came off the bench to score a career-high 31 points, pull down 13 rebounds, block three shots and make four steals to help Roanoke (6-6 overall, 3-2 ODAC) end a two-game losing streak.
"When [Rick] feels it, you just let him go," Moir said. "We've done the same thing earlier with [juniors Hillary Scott, Kevin Martin and Mike Thornton]. With some of these guys, when they get hot, you stay with them."
With Roanoke trailing 13-5 after four minutes of play, Becker entered the game and almost immediately made a layup. Becker scored 10 points as the Maroons went on a 21-4 spurt to take a 26-17 lead with 7:55 left in the half. Lynchburg went almost seven minutes without a field goal during Roanoke's run.
Behind Becker's 19 points and nine from Thorton, who also came off the bench, the Maroons led 47-37 at the half.
Lynchburg (5-6, 2-2) came out swinging after the break. The Hornets shut down the Maroons and tied the score at 50 with 14:30 left.
But after the teams traded baskets, Becker drove to the hoop for a layup. Daryle Dooms fouled him on the play, and Becker completed the three-point play to put the Maroons up 55-52.
Becker added a basket, and Jamara Jones scored twice as Roanoke built a 63-52 advantage with 11:34 left in the game. Lynchburg got no closer than eight the rest of the way.
"I think [Roanoke] converted the plays when they had to, and we missed too many easy opportunities," said Lynchburg coach Joe Davis, who coached at Cave Spring High last season. "They took advantage of their opportunities. Becker's one of the best in the ODAC. He has size and can shoot the ball."

by Archana Subramaniam by CNB