Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SUNDAY, January 24, 1993 TAG: 9301240075
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C6 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: CHRIS BACHELDER STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
LEE'S BIG PLAYS SAVE ROANOKE
Roanoke College forward Bryant Lee made the plays on Saturday.In a down-to-the-wire game against Randolph-Macon, Lee came through in two halves, on two ends of the floor, in two jerseys.
With the help of Lee's 33 minutes of solid, sometimes dazzling play, Roanoke emerged with a 52-44 Old Dominion Athletic Conference victory at the Bast Center.
The 6-foot-5 sophomore finished with 15 points, eight rebounds - both team-highs - two steals and a block. He also did a bang-up defensive job on Troy Smith, the Yellow Jackets' top scoring threat.
The Maroons (12-3, 7-2) survived despite shooting poorly (21-for-51) and playing Randolph-Macon's slow-down game. Roanoke also was without two key players - Rick Becker, who has an injured shoulder, and Mike Thornton (ankle).
"I'm probably as proud of this win as any all season because we couldn't shoot a lick," Roanoke coach Page Moir said. "We got some good shots and they just didn't drop. There's nothing you can do or say about that. The guys just sucked it up on defense and still won.
"Bryant had a real big game for us. He does the things that go unnoticed. He's usually called on to guard the best player on the other team. Stat-wise, he had one of his best games."
Lee and the Maroons got off to a quick start. In a 95-second, comfortably up-tempo span, Roanoke scored nine straight points to lead 11-3 with 16:17 remaining in the half. Lee made a 15-foot jumper, converted a three-point play and hit a short turnaround to score seven of the Maroons' first 11.
Then the Yellow Jackets (8-6, 4-4) put in three 3-pointers and 11 straight points - as Roanoke went scoreless for 6:42 - to lead 14-11 at the 12:19 mark.
But Lee roused the slumbering offense with two long jumpers and a stickback as the Maroons took a 26-22 halftime lead with a 15-8 run. Lee had 13 of Roanoke's 26 points and held Smith to two free throws.
"[Smith] had a few words for me before the game, so I was really up to play him," Lee said. "And I consider myself a pretty decent defensive player."
Randolph-Macon had only one more field goal (seven) than Lee, but the Yellow Jackets stayed close with five 3-pointers.
While Lee No. 31 helped build an early lead, Lee No. 55 helped save a late one.
The Roanoke forward had to change his customary No. 31 jersey midway through the second half when a scratch on his lower back bloodied his jersey. Under a new NCAA rule, play is stopped for blood on the court and stained uniforms must be changed.
Lee scurried into the lockerroom and returned as No. 55. He returned to hit a short bank shot that gave the Maroons a 48-44 lead with 1:55 remaining and then, 20 seconds later, he made an eye-opening play that robbed Randolph-Macon of a possession.
Falling down and out of bounds under the basket, Lee spun and hurled the ball at Smith, who was standing well out of bounds. The ball struck Smith as Lee lay on the floor, 10 feet away. Roanoke gained possession, ahead 48-44 with 1:29 to go.
"I was either going to travel or fall out of bounds, so when I saw [Smith], I threw it as hard as I could," Lee said. "I was a quarterback in high school."
Dustin Fonder added a steal with 35 seconds left, and Hilliary Scott and Stan Clements each hit two free throws as the Maroons edged away.
A 10-0 run - during a Roanoke dry spell of 5:41 - had given Randolph-Macon a 40-36 lead with 9:40 left. The score was tied at 40, 42 and 44, then the Yellow Jackets did not score for the final 4:45.
Scott and Kevin Martin combined for 26 points, 20 in the second half. Martin scored seven straight for Roanoke early in the second half, and Scott had eight of his 13 in the final 9:22.
Roanoke is host to Virginia Wesleyan today at 2 p.m. With a win, the Maroons can pass the Marlins for second place in the ODAC standings behind Emory & Henry. \
see microfilm for box score
Keywords:
BASKETBALL