MBB: Old Dominion Athletic Conference

[y_jack_lok]

After giving up a total of just 52 points in the first three halves of play yesterday and today, RMC gave up 54 to Salisbury in the second half this afternoon. But the Jackets scored 50 of their own points in that second half. So, with a 41-16 halftime lead, their lead was never threatened. Still, Salisbury showed that RMC has vulnerabilities, especially against teams with height. Final score was RMC 91, Salisbury 70.

Overall, ODAC teams went 5-2 on the day. Other winners were Roanoke, Averett, W&L, and Shenandoah. VWU took it on the chin from Mary Washington, as did H-SC vs Emory.

[y_jack_lok]

Yesterday Randolph got a win over William Peace, 82-72. Today there are two conference games -- Lynchburg at RMC and W&L at Guilford. Bridgewater, EMU, and VWU all have non-conference games. Starting Wednesday it's pretty much all ODAC action until the end, with the exception of RMC vs Mary Washington on 2/7. Perhaps there are some other non-conference games in there that I didn't notice.

[y_jack_lok]

In the three non-conference games today, all ODAC teams lost.

W&L trailed by 10 at the half at Guilford, but caught up midway through the second half an held on for a 90-88 win.

In Ashland, RMC's 25 point win over Lynchburg (85-60) felt more like a five point win. The Jackets had a six point halftime lead and slowly, methodically stretched it out. Lynchburg's Jamarcus Brown was on fire in the first half with 18 points but, as Coach Merkle said in the post-game interview, the Jackets were able to successfully limit Brown's touches in the second half. Lynchburg seemed to run out of steam late.

[Tigerfan]

I feel bad for you - having to live with those poor 25 point wins.  Try making sense of 30 point losses. 

[y_jack_lok]

I feel bad for you - having to live with those poor 25 point wins.  Try making sense of 30 point losses. 

Lol. Good one. It was one of those games where a 16-point lead with 6+ minutes left didn't feel safe.

[y_jack_lok]

ODAC action gets into full swing tonight. I'd say the game to watch is VWU at W&L. Both are 2-0 in conference. The Generals are 10-1 overall. The Marlins are coming off that blow-out loss at Mary Washington and a two-point loss to Franklin & Marshall. W&L had better be ready. I suspect the Marlins have something to prove.

Guilford at H-SC is another game to keep an eye on.

[y_jack_lok]

I overlooked RMC at Averett as a game to watch tonight. The Cougars upset the Jackets 62-60. RMC couldn't make shots, largely due to Averett's defense, which came from nowhere multiple times to block shots -- a total of nine. The Jackets looked just a bit slow compared to Averett. Also, the Cougars sank some wild and crazy shots. The three pointer with about nine seconds remaining and the shot clock expiring to give them a 61-60 lead took the cake. Kudos to Averett.

[Tigerfan]

I have mental whiplash from watching the Tigers play Guilford tonight.  The first half Tigers were passive and tentative. Like they were trying to control the pace and totally uncomfortable. The Quakers were playing with great energy and aggression, as well as dropping a lot of 3s.  It was 49-33 at the half.  If it was a fight, they wouldn't have stopped it, but a standing 8 count would have been given.  Tiger faithful were stunned, and I can't say I was hopeful going into the second half. 

The second half Tigers had the energy and attacked the Quakers at both ends.  Colin Radcliffe scored all 25 of his points in the second half.  The game utterly reversed course with the Tigers winning the second half 59-30 to take a 13 point win.  Guilford's Gabe Proctor was almost unbelievable.  I believe they would have won if he would have taken every Quaker shot in the second half regardless of the defense.  The range of his 8 treys and degree of difficulty on some of them were simply remarkable.  In addition to Radcliffe, notable Tigers included Santana Lynch with 17 pts and 14 boards along with Travis Stickney with 11 assists. 

[rmc1982]

I'm on a Caribbean Cruise with the wife and after coming upstairs after a good night( for my wife) in the Casino I just made the remark to my wife that " i wonder how many points we beat Averett by"...........UHHHHHH..... We got BEAT! Didn't see the game but kudos to the Cougars!!.... Our press release says we were outrebounded and Averett hit some key 3's to beat us! Just goes to show that you can't let up.... Not NONE.... Not ANY- in the ODAC!Anyone can beat you and congrats to Averett for doing just that!! We better straighten up or we'll get BLOWN OUTA RAGAN-BROWN! Always a tough game for us in Greensboro, and their announcers remind me of the old Jimmy Thacker-Billy Packer Pilot Life days of the old school ACC!  Great guys to listen to when you can't Have Marty and Andrew!! PICK IT UP JACKETS!!🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝

[y_jack_lok]

Looks like that was quite the turnaround for H-SC from down 16 at halftime to win by 13. Well done.

In other games: Roanoke thumps Shenandoah by 43; Lynchburg does the same to EMU by 36; VWU gets a smooth win at W&L by 25; and Bridgewater downs Randolph by 9.

Since this won't get any attention on the women's board, RMC handed Guilford it's first loss in similar fashion to what Averett did to the Jacket men. It was a close game most of the way. RMC trailed by three with four seconds left and was inbounding under its own basket. The pass went just beyond the arc to MacKenzie Matheny, normally a post player, who banked in a contested three, got fouled and made the free throw to give the Jackets a one point lead. Guilford called timeout to advance the ball past mid-court with one second left, but couldn't get a shot off before the buzzer. The score was similar to the men's game, 64-63.

Hoops. Gotta love it.

[y_jack_lok]

VWU, the only team undefeated in ODAC play, travels to Averett today. Will be interesting to see if the Cougars can pull of another upset. Or, will it even be an upset if they win? Hard to know. Earlier they took a 20-point loss at W&L. But this is a home game for them.

RMC is at Guilford. Let's hope the Jackets can bounce back from Wednesday night's loss. It'll be a completely different kind of game. The Quakers are 0-3 in conference play with losses to Roanoke, W&L, and H-SC.

Other games are W&L at Roanoke (both one loss teams in-conference), Shenandoah at Lynchburg (SU looking to get in the ODAC win column), EMU at Randolph (one of these will get its first conference win), and H-SC at Bridgewater (also one loss teams in-conference).

[Tigerfan]

RMC shouldn't have great difficulty with the Quakers.  The Jacket guards are excellent and should be able to handle the press and attack.  The Jackets will need to be energetic on the boards; they don't want to give Salters and Proctor many second chances.  Its always interesting to see what version of the Tigers shows up.  Roanoke is on a roll.

[Brian Hamilton]

HSC beats BC
RMC defeats GC Proctor didn't play due to illness.
W&L over Noke by 1.
Lyn over SU
AU vs VWU game shows suspended.  I watched the replay.  They suspended it due to wet court conditions.  Appeared the roof was leaking.