It was a packed house at Cedarville University on Saturday night, but it was a disappointed crowd that left the Callan Athletic Center after a 77-68 Raiders victory. Roberts Wesleyan extended their winning streak to four games and six out of their last seven with their victory over Cedarville in front of 2300 fans. The only Raiders loss during their winning streak was an overtime defeat at Mt Vernon Nazarene University back on January 22. The Yellowjackets from Cedarville led only once in the ball game, a 9-8 lead early in the contest. The Raiders balance and strong inside game at both ends of the floor proved to be too much for Cedarville who had won each of their last three American Mideast Conference games by at least 23 points.
The first half ended with Roberts taking a four point lead into the locker room, 41-37.
Jordan Heath scored 12 first half points and
Alif Bland had 11 to lead the Raiders. Roberts only committed three turnovers in the first twenty minutes.
The second half was closely contested as both teams exchanged baskets throughout, but with 5:51 remaining Cedarville cut the Raiders lead to 63-62 on a Matt Harner three pointer. Roberts then went on an 8-0 run punctuated by a
Dan Foley fast break dunk on which he was fouled. Foley's free throw completed the three point play extending the Raider lead to 71-62 with only 2:14 remaining in the game. From that point free throws sealed the deal as
Rashaad Stokelin went 4-4 and Foley chipped in a couple of more from the charity stripe.
Roberts was lead by
Alif Bland who finished with 19 points.
Jordan Heath had 16 points, 9 rebounds, and was credited with 6 blocks.
Rashaad Stokelin had 13 points and 10 rebounds, while
Dan Foley and Will Kemp-Harris each scored 11 points.
Justin Andreozzi's best move of the night may have happened the day before as he missed the team bus ride down to see a specialist for his broken hand. Andreozzi then caught a plane to Dayton, Ohio and secured a van which brought him the rest of the way to Cedarville. Andreozzi was not a factor offensively but he held Matt Harner, Cedarville's leading scorer averaging 18.9 points a game, to a 2-14 shooting night and 11 points. Derrick Hannon led the Yellowjackets with 19 points and Adam Riehle chipped in 10. The Raiders committed a season low 8 turnovers and shot 49% from the floor while holding Cedarville to a 34% shooting night.
The win by Roberts keeps the Raiders right in the middle of the playoff race. Presently Roberts is 7-6 in the American Mideast Conference and 13-11 overall. Walsh University sits atop the conference at 13-0 followed by Malone University 9-4, Cedarville 8-5, Daemen 8-6, Roberts and Mt Vernon at 7-6, and Point Park University, the Raiders next opponent, at 5-7. Notre Dame 4-8, Wilberforce 3-9, and Houghton 1-12 round out the ten team conference.
The Raiders will play their last two home contests of the year this week. On Tuesday night Point Park University comes to the Voller Athletic Center for a 7:30 start with two of the top five scorers in the American Mideast Conference, Kris Douse and Jimmy Sherwood. On Saturday, Walsh University, #1 in the country at 24-0 led by All-American point guard, Jeremy Shardo, will be at the VAC on Senior Day for a 4:00 start. Please come out and support your Raiders for the final stretch.
