Balenga hit on 8-of-10 three-point attempts, topping VWC’s former freshman record of seven set by John DeCandido against Emory & Henry College in 1991. Balenga also tied the second highest varsity total recorded by James MacLeod in 1997 and was only one triple off the record of nine set by Tom Palombo against Roanoke College in 1989.
Overall, Virginia Wesleyan hit 13 three-pointers, tying the second highest total in program history. As it turned out, the Marlins needed every one of them, including crucial triples by Balenga and junior Marques Fitch in the final three minutes to help hold off a second-half comeback by the visiting Braves.
Chowan, which trailed the Marlins by 20 points early in the second half, hit 7-of-13 field goals in a span of seven minutes to fuel a comeback. It was comeback helped by Virginia Wesleyan’s field goal slip, as the Marlins connected only only 2-of-15 attempts while the Braves were whittling away at the lead.
The Braves pulled within three points with 3:58 on the clock, but Balenga hit a big three to push the Marlins back in front by six points and, after a missed Chowan shot, Fitch nailed his three to give VWC a 78-69 lead with 2:50 on the clock.
A three-pointer by Joseph Cowan pulled Chowan within an 81-78 score with 30 seconds remaining, but VWC spread out and drew Braves fouls in the final ticks. Fitch hit 3-of-4 free throws down the stretch to help the Marlins post the win.
In addition to Balenga’s 24 points, Fitch scored 21 for the Marlins. The twosome combined to hit 13-of-20 field goal attempts, including 11-of-15 from three point range. Trayvon Lathan paced Chowan with 24 points, aided by an 8-of-10 showing from the free throw stripes. Montino Williams hit 7-of-14 from the field and finished with 17 points. VWC outrebounded Chowan 40-37, led by Brandon Adair with 10.