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Men's Basketball

ODAC Men's Basketball Report: Week 14

The stretch run is going to be run…or nerve-wracking…or both. Parity reigned over the past week with 10 teams winning at least one game. That included 12 conference outings – including the continuation of the Virginia Wesleyan at Averett tilt – and one high-profile non-conference clash with No. 6 Randolph-Macon downing second-ranked Mary Washington, 85-74.

The Yellow Jackets went 2-0 overall and are now tied at 10-2 in league play with VWU, which went 2-1 with the AU result included. No. 17 Roanoke is one back at 9-3, while Washington and Lee picked up two big wins to sit in solo fourth at 8-4. Hampden-Sydney and Lynchburg are both 7-5, while Averett slots seventh at 6-6. If the season ended today, Guilford would own the eighth seed at 5-7, but three teams currently positioned below the Quakers are within two games in the table.

With one more win, Randolph-Macon would be the first ODAC school to crack 20 wins. The Yellow Jackets are currently 19-2 as one of nine teams in the league standings with better than .500 winning percentages.

  • JACKSON BELL | ROANOKE | GUARD
    Bell, a junior from Roswell, Ga., posted a strong all-around week in averaging 17.5 points and 7.5 rebounds with three assists, eight steals, and two blocked shots in helping No. 17 Roanoke to a 1-1 week in ODAC play. On Wednesday in a 64-56 setback at Washington and Lee, Bell scored 12 points to go with seven rebounds (6 defensive). He handed out two assists and came away with a pair of steals. On Saturday in a 73-57 win at EMU, Bell turned up his production across the board, registered 23 points with eight rebounds (5 defensive), five steals, and a pair of blocked shots. He was 8-of-17 from the field including 3-of-7 from three-point range. He was also 4-for-4 from the line to help him to an 8-of-9 showing for the week. On the season, Bell is ninth in the ODAC in scoring (14.9) and eighth in three-point shooting (.360, 40-of-111).

  • JOHN LOUGHLIN | WASHINGTON AND LEE | GUARD
    Loughlin, a senior from Alexandria, Va., put together arguably his best week of the season in helping Washington and Lee to a pair of key ODAC victories to improve to 16-5 overall and 8-4 for solo fourth place in the ODAC table. Loughlin powered the WLU offense to wins over No. 17 Roanoke (64-56) and Guilford (97-96), which completed a season sweep over four games over the two schools. Loughlin buried 11 three-pointers over the two outings beginning with a 3-for-7 showing against the Maroons on Wednesday. He was also 6-of-7 from the line towards 15 points and chipped in six rebounds. On Saturday against Guilford, Loughlin sank a career-high eight three-pointers on the way to a collegiate-best 24 points. He scored 18 points in the first half to help the Generals to a 53-36 halftime advantage, while his eight makes from deep are tied for the second-most in program history. Loughlin six rebounds, a pair of assists, and a steal to his line. For the season, Loughlin is averaging 9.1 points. He is second in the ODAC in three-point shooting (.446, 50-of-112) and three-pointers made.

John Loughlin
Jackson Bell