Salem, Va. (01/17/07) - Paced by AJ Dowell's career-high 29 points, host Roanoke College upset Guilford College Wednesday night in Old Dominion Athletic Conference (ODAC) play. The Maroons, winners of six consecutive games, improve to 7-7 overall and 3-4 in the ODAC. The Quakers, ranked 20th in this week's D3hoops.com Top 25 Poll, suffer their second loss in three games and drop to 11-2 (5-2 ODAC). This win marks the second straight year the Maroons have upset a visiting nationally-ranked opponent, last season defeating #11 Hampden-Sydney College.

Dowell got the first two of his 29 points to open the game's scoring and give the Maroons the 2-0 lead. Guilford's Ben Strong, who also scored 29 points, tied the score at two moments later. Following an Eric Belkoski layup and Jordan Snipes three-pointer Guilford led 7-4 three minutes in. The Quakers' lead grew to five points, 11-6, with 13:45 left on two George Neville free throws.

Sparked by a Bart Davis three-pointer from the corner, the Maroons evened the score at 13 with a 7-2 run midway through the half. Guilford's Caleb Kimbrough countered with a three. After Curtis Peery trimmed Guilford's lead to one with a short jumper, the Maroons defense created back-to-back turnovers, the second a steal by Aaron Tyson which resulted in a Dowell layup and a 17-16 Roanoke lead it would not relinquish.

The score was tied three times after, the final time at 24. A Zach Milton second-chance layup, a Ben Lawler fast break layup on a Keith Carter assist, and a Lawler stick-back jumper gave the Maroons a six-point lead, 30-24, with 4:59 left in the first half. The Maroons led the rest of the half and halftime, 36-33.

Roanoke's lead grew to as many as 10 points in the second half, 57-47. Twice Guilford rallied to within two points, the second time on a Strong three-point play with 6:06 left, which made the score, 60-58.

Dowell answered with seven straight points, scoring on a jumper followed by a traditional three-point play. The Quakers responded with a Belkoski basket, but another Dowell drive to the goal gave the Maroons two more points from the free throw line, giving the home team a 67-61 lead with 3:25 left. With 1:35 left in the game, Guilford's Snipes hit a fade-away jumper from the baseline, but again it was Dowell that answered for the Maroons, scoring his 28th and 29th points on a 17-foot shot from the wing.

The Quakers sent the Maroons to the free throw line three times in the final minute but Roanoke was only able to make one. That one, however, came with 16 seconds left from Shrader, giving Roanoke a four-point edge, 72-68. The Quakers got off two three-point attempts in the final 10 seconds, neither of which connected, and then ended the game with their 18th turnover, that at the buzzer.

Dowell made 11 of his 15 shots from the floor and all three of his free throws. He also had two assists and three steals. Carter finished the game with just two points, but also six assists, six rebounds, and three steals. Lawler finished the game with six points for the Maroons, who went just 8-for-16 from the line.

Strong, who leads the ODAC in scoring and rebounding, matched Dowell's 29 points but also added 13 rebounds and seven blocked shots. He went 11-for-11 from the line. Snipes scored 20 points.

Roanoke hosts Lynchburg College Saturday at 2:00 p.m. and Hamdpen-Sydney Sunday at 2:00pm. The Quakers entertain Bridgewater Saturday at 2:00 and Eastern Mennonite the following day at 3:00 p.m.

- courtesy of Roanoke College Sports Information