Lebanon Valley, led by preseason All-American J.D. Byers, led 59-51 with 3:15 remaining to play when Virginia Wesleyan started its comeback. The Marlins, led by sophomore Thomas Sumpter and junior Marques Fitch, outscored the Flying Dutchmen 12-4 to end regulation play. Fitch hit a long three-pointer from the right with 37 seconds to tie the game and a final seconds triple from LVC’s Jimmy Curran missed the mark.
Overtime belonged to the Marlins as sophomore Brandon Adair opened scoring with a jumper to give VWC a lead it would not lose. The Marlins outscored the Dutchmen 14-5 in the first four minutes of the OT to put matters on ice. Adair led OT scoring with six points, while Fitch and Sumpter added four each.
Fitch, named the tournament MVP, led four Marlins in double-figure scoring with 17 points. Senior Peter Warren added 16, rookie Ton Ton Balenga 12 and Adair 11. Byers paced Lebanon Valley with 30 points, aided by an 8-of-10 showing from the free throw lines. Steve Buzinski scored 15 for the Dutch and led all rebounding with 12.