This was the fourth meeting for these two teams, but the first time Roanoke has played at the Crown Coliseum this season and against new Patriots coach Jeff Capel. Four Patriots players were in double figures: Greg Stempin had 24 points, Danny Johnson scored 21, and Terrell McIntyre and Antwain Smith added 12 apiece.

Marshall Phillips led the Dazzle with 23 points and was followed by four other players in double figures: Andre McCollum (17), Artie Griffin (17), Jeff Boese (13) and Skip Youngblood (13).

"We didn't guard very well and we knew Roanoke was a team that was very perimeter oriented," said Patriots coach Jeff Capel. "They beat us off the dribble quite a bit and knocked their shots down. We played good in the first half, but in the third quarter they really just opened up. They went small on us and that created some problems for us. You have to give them a lot of credit. I've got no excuses and I don't want my players to use any excuses about fatigue or anything like that."

The Dazzle opened up a 24-19 lead after one as Phillips led with nine, including 21-footer at the buzzer. Griffin's three-pointer with 4.7 seconds left in the half saw the Dazzle head into the locker room up by one, 43-42.

However, the Patriots gained ground in the second period with hot shooting from Johnson, who racked up eight points (5-8 FGA). The third period saw 10 lead changes and the score tied four times, but the Dazzle were still in command headed into the final stanza 66-59.

The final quarter found the Dazzle still on top, as the Patriots were 7-for-20 from the field. At the 3:49 mark the Patriots found themselves trailing 69-85, but tried to make a comeback off of two free throws by Smith and a driving dunk by Stempin, upping the score 72-85.

The Dazzle's Boese answered with a 6-foot jump shot and with 50.3 seconds Johnson hit a three-pointer, but the Patriots were still down 79-92. Youngblood slammed one in at the 40-second mark, followed by a driving layup from Derrick Hines. The Patriots' Stempin came back with a 25-footer, but as time expired the Dazzle were on top 98-82.

"We made some key shots said," Dazzle coach Kent Davison. "This game is not that difficult, it's a fundamental game and the big thing is one team gets a little streak going and fortunately we were that team. "Our guys did a great job not only offensively, but defensively. They (Patriots) were on 62 for a long time and we did a good job at not allowing Danny to get some open looks and also Stempin."

The Patriots shot 43 percent from the field (32-73 FGA) and hit 75 percent from the free throw line (15-20 FTA). The Dazzle shot 50 percent from the field (34-68 FGA) and sank 80 percent of their free throws (24-30 FTA).

"They got to the basket really easy," Stempin said. "We couldn't guard anybody and they started beating us on loose balls. Our hustle let up in the fourth and fatigue could have been a factor, but we can't use that as an excuse. We've got to do better than this."