ROANOKE TIMES 
                      Copyright (c) 1997, Roanoke Times

DATE: Tuesday, February 4, 1997              TAG: 9702040120
SECTION: SPORTS                   PAGE: B-1  EDITION: METRO 
DATELINE: LYNCHBURG
SOURCE: STAFF REPORT

MAROONS FEEL STING OF DEFEAT ROANOKE HANDED 3RD STRAIGHT LOSS

After losing two straight games, the Roanoke College men's basketball team hoped to get well Monday night when it traveled to Lynchburg College.

Instead, the sixth-ranked Division III club in the country walked smack into a Hornets' nest, losing 105-93.

In an incredible shooting display, Lynchburg hit 19 of 24 field-goal attempts (79 percent) in the second half to deal the Maroons their third loss in six days. It was the Hornets' first victory over their Old Dominion Athletic Conference neighbor in 10 years, a span covering 20 games.

Lynchburg, coached by former Glenvar High and Radford University boss Joe Davis, improved to 10-8 overall and 7-5 in the ODAC. Roanoke, which lost at Emory & Henry last Wednesday and at home to Hampden-Sydney on Sunday, fell to 14-4 overall and 9-3 in the league.

``Last week we were on top of the world,'' said Page Moir, Roanoke's coach. ``Now I would like to think that by next week we can be back on top of the world.

``What counts is where we end up. I'd like to think we can respond positively to this bit of adversity. Last year we won some games in which we didn't play well. We're more the hunted this year and we've got to play well to win.''

The Maroons couldn't stop the Hornets. LC, which led 43-36 at halftime, shot 60 percent from the floor (37-for-62) for the game. Mike Preston and Rodney Early (Rockbridge County) scored 22 points each to lead Lynchburg, which hit five of six 3-point attempts in the second half and nine of 20 for the game.

``They couldn't miss,'' Moir said. ``A lot of guys can hit five of six 3s standing on the floor alone.''

While the Maroons shot well enough to win (36-for-71, 50.7 percent), they were 6-for-25 from beyond the arc and just 15-of-29 at the free-throw line.

``The missed free throws really killed us,'' said Moir, whose club entered the night shooting 70.5 percent from the stripe. ``We missed at critical times. We'd miss, then they'd come down a hit a 3.''

Jason Bishop led Roanoke with 27 points and six steals. Jon Maher (Blacksburg) added 17 points.

Roanoke, which is ranked No.1 in the South Region, returns to action Thursday at Bridgewater.

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