With the victory, the Yellow Jackets improve to 13-8 on the season and 11-4 in the conference. Randolph-Macon has won five of the last six games. The Marlins fall to 17-5 overall and 10-5 in the ODAC.
Virginia Wesleyan was only ahead once in the game, 2-0 less than one minute into the contest on a layup by first-year guard Ton Ton Balenga (Newport News, VA/Warwick). A layup by Randolph-Macon’s Hawley tied the score at 2-2, and he put the Yellow Jackets ahead for good with another layup three minutes into the game. In the first half, Randolph-Macon’s biggest lead was 11 points, 21-10, with 8:06 left before halftime. The Marlins came back from that deficit, however, outscoring the Yellow Jackets 12-3 to pull to within two points, 24-22, with 2:11 on the clock. The margin at the break was only five points, 29-24.
Early in the second period, the Randolph-Macon lead was nine points several times. With the Yellow Jackets up 41-32 five minutes into the half, again Virginia Wesleyan would gain momentum, with a 8-0 run to cut the lead to one point, 41-40. Then it was time for Randolph-Macon to take control again, putting together a 19-6 surge and leading by 14 points, 60-46, with 5:46 remaining in the contest.
The Marlins never gave up, however. A five-minute, 22-10 run by Virginia Wesleyan pulled the visitors to within two points, 70-68, with just :18 remaining. Randolph-Macon’s Hawley and senior guard Justin Moyer (Landisville, PA/Hempfield) each made one foul shot in the closing seconds to secure the 72-68 win.
Following the performances by Hawley and Wansley, Randolph-Macon’s Moyer finished with nine points and a game-high five assists. He made 3-of-4 (75.0-%) free throws.
Virginia Wesleyan was led by Balenga, with 23 points. He made 2-of-4 (50.0%) shots from three-point distance. Also for the Marlins, senior forward Peter Warren (Winchester, VA/Handley) and first-year guard D’Juan Tucker (Dumfries, VA/Forest Park) each scored 11 points. Warren also made 2-of-4 (50.0%) three-point field goal attempts, and was 3-for-4 (75.0%) at the foul line. Tucker distributed three assists, as did junior guard Marques Fitch (Virginia Beach, VA/Kellam). First-year forward Tyler Fantin (Virginia Beach, VA/Kellam) led Virginia Wesleyan with nine rebounds.