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

DATE: TUESDAY, February 21, 1995                   TAG: 9502210096
SECTION: SPORTS                    PAGE: B-5   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: ANDREA KUHN STAFF WRITER
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Medium

MAROONS FALL 65-55 IN ODAC TITLE GAME

Roanoke had history on its side entering the championship game of the Old Dominion Athletic Conference men's basketball tournament Monday night at the Salem Civic Center.

But Hampden-Sydney had experience.

Senior Jason Leonard led a veteran Tigers team with 17 points and seven rebounds as Hampden-Sydney claimed the ODAC title with a 65-55 victory over the Maroons.

It was the first loss for the Maroons in an ODAC championship game. Roanoke had won all nine of its previous appearances.

The top-seeded Tigers (25-2), who won their first championship since 1991-92 and third overall, earned an automatic bid to the NCAA Division III national tournament.

No. 2-seeded Roanoke (19-8) likely will receive an at-large bid to the national tournament, which is expanding to 64 teams. Pairings will be announced Sunday.

Roanoke dug itself into an early hole, missing six of its first nine shots - all free throws. The Maroons didn't register a field goal until senior forward Bryant Lee made a layup after 5 minutes, 20 seconds had elapsed.

``We needed to get off to a good start and we didn't,'' said Roanoke coach Page Moir. ``Hampden-Sydney is such a veteran team. If they get you down, they're not going to let you back in it.''

The Tigers shot 48 percent in the first half and led 37-28 at halftime.

Roanoke rallied in the second half, but couldn't sustain the momentum. The Maroons pulled within seven points several times, including 55-48 with three minutes to play. But Hampden-Sydney made key free throws down the stretch to close out the win.

``We came in with every intention of winning, and I think we left everything out on the floor,'' Lee said. ``Eventually, we came out and made it close, but we could never get over the hump.''

Junior forward Nate Schwab, the tournament's most valuable player, got in early foul trouble and finished with 11 points for the Tigers. Senior guard Todd Kerr added 10.

Lee finished with 22 points and nine rebounds for the Maroons and was named to the all-tournament team along with sophomore guard Jason Bishop, who added nine points and five rebounds.

Rounding out the all-tournament team were Hampden-Sydney's Leonard and Kerr, and Emory & Henry's Dytanyon Norman, a native of Bassett.

by CNB