SALEM, Va. – Host Roanoke College rallied from a 16-point deficit to down Shenandoah University 108-97 in double overtime Thursday night in ODAC men's basketball action.
Shenandoah (3-5, 0-2 ODAC) led for virtually all of regulation only to see Roanoke
(7-1, 2-0) tie the game at 81 with 22 seconds remaining to force overtime.
SU, which led 28-12 by the 8:34 mark of the first, 46-34 at halftime and by 10 points as late as 11:22 of the second, saw junior EJ Baltimore's running layup at the end of regulation fall just short.
The Maroons, who are the No. 2 scoring team in the nation at 107.0 points per game, took their first lead of the contest by scoring the opening bucket of the first OT.
The two teams found themselves tied at 83, 85, 87, 89 and 92-all in that first overtime but it was Shenandoah that again held the final possession.
Following a Cameron Smith layup that tied at 92-92 with 30.6 seconds remaining, SU called time with 23.5 seconds showing to set up a final play.
The Hornets successfully inbounded the ball, but Baltimore was swarmed by the Maroons defense and was unable to get a shot off before the horn sounded.
Roanoke won the tap to start the second OT, and following a Bryce Woodliff 3-pointer at 4:14, never trailed again.
An Aaron Patterson jumper brought Shenandoah to within three, 99-96, with 2:51 remaining before Roanoke ended the game on a 9-1 run. All but two of those final 10 points came from the foul line.
Baltimore led the visitors with 19 points with Patterson and Antwan Pittman adding 15 each and Gabriel Gonzalez 12.
Smith had a game-high 30 points for the hosts.
Shenandoah shot 53 percent from the field from the game with the Maroons shooting 54 percent.
RC held a 39-37 advantage on the glass.
The 97 points scored for the Hornets is the most since a 96-23 victory over Patrick Henry on November 15, 2012.
Roanoke, winners of seven straight, has cracked the 100-point barrier in six of its eight games.
Shenandoah is off for the next nine days due to final exams and returns to the court on December 19 for a non-league contest at Ferrum.
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