BC snaps losing streak with win at Roanoke

Bridgewater College snapped its losing streak Saturday afternoon with a 71-67 victory over Roanoke College in ODAC men’s basketball action.

Bridgewater freshman Ed Reddick went to the foul line with 10.9 seconds left and the Eagles nursing a two-point lead. Reddick knocked down both foul shots to put the finishing touches on the Eagles’ victory.

The win snapped Bridgewater’s 10-game losing streak. The Eagles are now 5-12 overall and 2-6 in the ODAC.

“I’m really happy for the guys to get that win,” Bridgewater head coach Don Burgess said. “To come into Roanoke and get a road win says a lot about our team. We’re young and we’ve been struggling, but the team has stuck together. They come to practice with a positive attitude and the work ethic has remained strong. It’s just nice to come out of her with a win.”

The Maroons jumped out to a quick 10-4 lead and led by as many as eight points, 26-18, with 4:27 left in the first half.

A 3-pointer by Tavis Stapleton and a layup by David Larson cut the Maroons’ lead to 26-23 with 2:06 left in the half. After Roanoke’s Jordan Thacker hit 1-of-2 at the foul line Cody Griffith knocked down a 3-pointer to pull the Eagles within one.

The teams traded empty possessions until Griffith hit another 3-pointer with 46 second left in the half to give the Eagles a 29-27 lead at the break.

The lead changed hands three times early in the second half before a 3-pointer by Benaiah Wise gave the Eagles the lead for good, 39-38, with 14:30 left to play.

Bridgewater led the rest of the way, but the Eagles never could shake free from the Maroons.

The Maroons closed to within two, 58-56, with 5:11 when Kwasi Amponsah knocked down a perimeter jumper, but the Eagles responded with a 5-0 run. Aaron Adams scored on a layup and Matthew Hunter stroked a huge 3-pointer to put the Eagles on top by seven, 63-56, with 3:08 left.

Amponsah answered with five straight points to trim the margin to two before Ronnie Thomas hit 1-of-2 from the line for a three-point Bridgewater lead, 64-61, with 2:14 left.

Adams then scored on a layup and two free throws to give the Eagles a seven-point, 68-61, with 1:28 to play.

The Maroons had one final run left and pulled to with two on a 3-pointer by Amponsah with 22 seconds left.

Bridgewater then turned the ball over, but Amponsah missed a jumper and Reddick controlled the rebound. Reddick was fouled and calmly sank the clinching free throws in BC’s 71-67 victory.

Adams led the Eagles with 16 points and four steals while Griffith added 15 points. Thomas scored 10 points while Reddick scored six points and pulled down a game-high 10 rebounds.

“A big key for us was Cody knocking down some shots,” said Burgess. “Aaron Adams played steady and Ed Reddick was a man on the boards. It won’t show up in the stats, but David Larson drew four charging fouls and that’s huge. David really played a strong game for today.”

Amponsah led Roanoke with a game-high 27 points.

The Eagles return to action Monday night when they host Virginia Wesleyan, the No. 2 ranked team in the nation. Game time is 7:00 p.m. at Nininger Hall. The Marlins will come into Monday’s game smarting from their first loss of the season, a 60-55 setback at home today against Guilford.

“We won’t have much time to enjoy this win as we have Wesleyan coming to town Monday,” said Burgess. “You know Coach Macedo will have them ready to play after losing at home to Guilford.”