ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1997, Roanoke Times
DATE: Sunday, February 9, 1997 TAG: 9702110007
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C-5 EDITION: METRO
DATELINE: HAMPDEN-SYDNEY
SOURCE: STAFF REPORT
When will it all end?
The Roanoke College men's basketball team lost its fifth consecutive game, falling 78-74 to Hampden-Sydney on Saturday. It was the Maroons' second loss to the Tigers in eight days.
Senior Bryan Sheridan, who had 14 points and a game-high 12 rebounds, made two free throws with 5.2 seconds left to seal the victory for Hampden-Sydney. An overflow Fleet Gymnasium crowd of 2,173 watched the Maroons lose a fifth straight game for the first time since the 1976-77 season and fall into fourth place in the Old Dominion Athletic Conference.
The Maroons (14-6 overall, 9-5 ODAC) are 11/2 games behind first-place Virginia Wesleyan. The Tigers visit Wesleyan on Wednesday, where they will put their 16-5 overall record and 10-5 ODAC mark on the line.
``Obviously, we caught [the Maroons] at what is a down time for them,'' said Hampden-Sydney coach Tony Shaver, who recorded the 200th victory of his career. ``The thing that impressed me most about both teams is the effort of all the guys.''
Senior guard Jason Bishop made 10 of his 13 shots and scored a game-high 24 points to lead Roanoke, and senior center Tim Braun added 16 points and eight rebounds. Freshman T.J. Grimes paced Hampden-Sydney with 19 points.
Down 34-31 at halftime, the Maroons tied it quickly and took a 49-46 lead with 15:43 to play. The Tigers then went on a 14-2 run to forge a 60-51 lead. Roanoke tied it again, 71-71, with 1:43 left, but Hampden-Sydney pulled ahead at the free-throw line. Braun missed a five-footer with 6.3 seconds left and the Maroons down 76-74.
Roanoke coach Page Moir said his team played well and added that Friday's practice was one of the team's best of the season. ``Maybe the worst of the storm is over,'' he said. ``If we'd been playing as well as we did today, we would have won three of the five games.''
NOTE: Please see microfilm for scores.
LENGTH: Short : 44 linesby CNB