After starting the season 4-0, men’s basketball went 7-3 during winter break. Since students have returned to class, the team has dropped two of their last three games.

On Jan. 15, the team travelled to EMU.

In the first half, the Panthers outscored EMU 39-33 shooting 60% from the field.

In the second half the team knocked down six threes to go alongside the five they hit in the first half to extend their lead, and eventually win 81-71 moving their conference record to 4-2.

All five starters scored double digit points, with junior Sterling Charles leading all scorers with 19 points and five threes.

#16 Randolph Macon was the follow, as the Panthers battled in the first half playing efficient offense and physical defense.

In the first half, Ferrum shot 13-21 from the field and 4-9 from three while holding Randolph- Macon to 15-31 from the field.

This helped the team hold a one-point lead going into the half.

In the second half, the script flipped as although the Yellow Jackets shot 10-23 from the field, they shot 23 free throws in the second half.

The constant foul calls caused the Panthers to become agitated, and tempers flared.

Ferrum would go on to shoot 9-24 from the field and miss 6 free throws in the second half–11 in the game–as Randolph-Macon capitalized at the line hitting 16 in the second half.

Being Sterling’s four threes, 18 points, and senior Alfredo Abel-Rivera’s 14 points and 12 rebounds, it wasn’t enough, and the Panthers fell 73-65.

Things didn’t get much better when rival Roanoke College came to Swartz Gym Wednesday night.

In the blink of an eye the Maroons took a commanding 21-2 lead within the first five minutes of the first half.

At halftime, the Panthers were down 28 points.

Four Roanoke players were in double digit scoring in the first half, and not much changed in the second half.

Again, the Panthers’ opponent worked their way to the line. This time the Maroons had 36 free throw attempts making 26.

The men had a tough time hitting the long ball against Roanoke shooting 6-27 from three and 22-68 from the field.

The final score was 98-66 dropping the team’s conference record to 4-4, putting them sixth in the conference standings with eight games remaining in the regular season.

Saturday will be a chance to get back on track when the Panthers take on Hampden Sydney who are currently 7-1 in ODAC play.