In a game packed with 30 lead changes, it took a late turnover to seal the outcome, as Roanoke College stole an 88-87 decision from the EMU basketball men Saturday night in Harrisonburg.  The Maroons took the lead with 2.4 seconds left to play, then watched as Eastern Mennonite turned the ball over on their final chance.

The Runnin Royals slip to 10-9 with the loss and even up at 5-5 in the ODAC.  More importantly, they lose their one-game edge on Hampden-Sydney and Randolph for fifth place in the league standings.  The three teams are now tied.  Roanoke moved to 9-9 overall and 3-7 in the ODAC.

Neither team led by more than six points on the night, with RC holding a 44-43 edge at halftime.

The Maroons used a 10-0 run early in the second to open up the game's biggest lead at 55-49.  EMU quickly came back and worked back in front at 63-62 with 11:54 to play.  It was back-and-forth the rest of the way.

Eastern Mennonite had a three-point lead after two David Falk (Madison, Va./Madison) free throws made it 82-79 with 2:51 to go.  But a turnover and missed shot gave the Maroons an open door and they took it.  Back-to-back layup put the visitors in front 83-82, then a long three pointer from Andrew Daniels with the shot clocking winding down, pushed Roanoke's edge to 86-82 with 1:16 left.

Marcel Crump (Richmond, Va./Highland Springs) hit a layup to cut it to two, and an unforced turnover gave the Royals life.  Crump had a shot blocked, but the Maroons then missed the front end of a one-and-one with 15 seconds to go.  RJ Sims (Fort Washington, Md./Friendly) nailed a huge three pointer with 8.8 seconds left, vaulting EMU in front, 87-86.

But the Maroons quickly pushed up the floor and Daniels found a wide open John Fitchett for a short jumper with 2.4 seconds left, making it 88-87.

After a timeout, the Royals turned the ball over on an inbounds violation, and Roanoke ran off the final seconds to steal the decision.

RC out-shot the men 46% to 45%, but the Runnin Royals stayed close by having their best game of the year from the free throw line.  They connected on 23-of-28 attempts for 82%.

Falk was dominant once again, hitting a double double with 22 points and 16 rebounds.  He was 8-for-11 from the stripe and also blocked three shots.  Crump worked his way to 18 points.  James Williams (Capitol Heights, Md./Archbishop Carroll) added 12 points, with Sims coming in at 11.  Ryan Yates (Alexandria, Va./T.C. Williams) returned from a four-game absence with 11 points and four assists.

Daniel Echo led Roanoke with 24 points, while Julian Ramirez had 21 and seven assists.

EMU now enters a tough week of their schedule, with road games at Virginia Wesleyan on Wednesday and Hampden-Sydney on Saturday.