BRIDGEWATER, Va. - In a game that featured seven ties and 12 lead changes, the Bridgewater College men's basketball team ultimately fell 67-58 to Roanoke at home on Saturday to end the regular season. The Eagles finish the regular season as the ninth seed and will travel to crosstown rival Eastern Mennonite, the eighth seed, on Monday for a first-round showdown.

The Basics

• Final Score: Bridgewater 58, Roanoke 67
• Records: Bridgewater (9-15, 5-11 ODAC), Roanoke (17-8, 9-7 ODAC)

How It Happened

• The Maroons scored first less than a minute into the contest with a layup. The early 2-0 edge lasted a mere nine seconds before Liam Caswell sank a three pointer off a pass from Shod Smith. The contest would continue in a similar fashion, with neither team taking a lead larger than three points until a Mikey Ayala three pointer with thirteen minutes left in the half gave Bridgewater a 17-13 edge
• After trading trips to the charity stripe, BC took a five point lead off of another three this time from Zach Hatter for a 24-16 edge. Roanoke continued to respond, coming within one point several times and taking the lead at 29-28 with five minutes to go in the frame. Following a Maroon layup and Alec Topper jumper to make it 31-30, free throws were the name of the game with the Maroons sinking two and the Eagles draining three as the teams entered the locker room tied up at 33-33
• Bridgewater and Roanoke played possesion-for-possesion through the first 11 minutes of the half with neither team able to take more than a three point edge. Roanoke earned their largest lead of the game at 48-44 on a layup and added to it on successful trips to the line. The Eagles went two minutes without a basket, giving Roanoke the opportunity to capitlize
• The Eagles fell behind as much as eight points before Aaron Oates made two from the line to bring it back within four at 54-50. Never giving up, Bridgewater was unable to catch up to Roanoke in the tightly contested match and fell 67-58

Match Notes

• Topper had a team high 15 points and 12 rebounds for a double-double
• Smith posted 13 points with three rebounds and six assists while Caswell had eight points
• Oates grabbed 12 boards, just one off of his career high, while Joseph Crenshaw grabbed a career high eight rebounds 
• The Eagles made seven threes compared to the Maroons' five but committed 19 turnovers compared to the Maroons eight

Up Next

• Bridgewater will travel to Eastern Mennonite for the first round of the ODAC Tournament on Monday, February 21. Action is set for 7:00 p.m. in Harrisonburg.