DANVILLE, Va. — Averett University men's basketball couldn't overcome a halftime deficit in a 75-55 home loss to Roanoke College in Old Dominion Athletic Conference action Wednesday night in the Grant Center.
Averett (5-8, 0-4 ODAC) only trailed 17-14 with 9:57 left in the first half, but Roanoke (10-3, 4-1 ODAC) used a 14-0 run over the next five minutes — including three 3-pointers —to put some distance on the Cougars on the Maroons' way to a 36-16 advantage by halftime. The Cougars' defense had four blocks and three steals in the first half, but shot only 20 percent from the floor while committing 16 turnovers.
The Cougars made several 3-pointers in the second half in an attempt to chip away, getting as close as 15 points several times including on redshirt freshman
Timayahs Bracey's 3-pointer with 10:36 to play. Although Averett knocked down 12 free throws down the stretch, the Cougars went more than seven minutes without a field goal in that span. Roanoke, which is receiving votes in the latest D3hoops.com poll, was able to hold on for the win.
Averett improved its shooting in the second half, knocking down 41.2 percent of its shots in the final period. Freshman
Jackson Sellars scored a career-high 16 points to go with five rebounds and two blocks. Bracey matched his career-high with nine points.
The Cougars' defense totaled a season-best nine blocks.
Averett's next game is scheduled for Saturday at Randolph College at 2 p.m.
Â
