JACKETS NIP MAROONS 60-59

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

DATE: FRIDAY, February 26, 1993                   TAG: 9302270012
SECTION: SPORTS                    PAGE: B4   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: CHRIS BACHELDER STAFF WRITER
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Medium
JACKETS NIP MAROONS 60-59
Thursday's forecast of snow called for only about six inches, but Roanoke College was buried by 68.
Five-foot-8 freshman point guard Kurt Axe nailed a running 18-footer at the buzzer as third-seeded Randolph-Macon surprised the No. 2 Maroons 60-59 at the Salem Civic Center.
The win completed an upset doubleheader in the semifinals of the Old Dominion Athletic Conference tournament. In the first game, No. 4 Virginia Wesleyan toppled top-seeded Emory & Henry 90-76 in overtime.
Randolph-Macon will face Virginia Wesleyan on Saturday at 3 p.m. for the tournament title.
"I wanted Axe to shoot the basketball because he is a winner," said Randolph-Macon coach Hal Nunnally. "As fast as he is and as good a shooter, I wanted him with the ball."
Axe's jumper spoiled a rousing comeback by the Maroons, who trailed by 18 points early in the second half. An Axe runner with 16:30 to play gave the Yellow Jackets a 45-27 advantage.
Roanoke surged back behind Hilliary Scott and two big 3-pointers by Mike Thornton. Scott's double-clutch baseline layup with five seconds left gave Roanoke its first lead of the half, 59-58.
Randolph-Macon called timeout, then inbounded to Axe. Axe dribbled from key to key and fired the game-winner, setting off a massive halfcourt celebration.
Axe finished with 11 points. Scott led Roanoke with 21 points.
Roanoke cruised to a 15-6 lead after seven minutes, then crumpled. The Maroons managed only four points in a span of 9:51 as Randolph-Macon took control with a 21-4 run.
Two Axe free throws gave the Yellow Jackets a 27-19 lead with 3:35 left in the half. Smith scored nine straight during the run and finished with 19 in the half.
Smith's breakaway two-handed dunk at the halftime buzzer gave the Jackets a 35-25 edge.
Roanoke shot 10-for-24 (41.7 percent) in the half, while Randolph-Macon made 12 of its 22 field goals (54.5 percent).

by Archana Subramaniam by CNB