Kaase, who shared high-scoring honors with teammate Matt Guill, hit on 8-of-14 field goal attempts as the Tigers (9-7, 4-5) consistently got the ball inside on the Marlins (12-4, 6-4) for buckets. Virginia Wesleyan was also able to score inside, but could not get the perimeter game clicking. The Marlins hit only 33% of their shots in the second half, and 39% for the game, while the Tigers nailed a sizzling 61% in the second half and 55% for the game.
Virginia Wesleyan led 35-32 at halftime, but could not build on it in the second half as shots refused to fall. While the Marlins were missing, the Tigers were hitting, and took the lead for good on a jumper by Davis Bowne with 14:36 remaining to be played. It sparked a 17-4 scoring run for H-SC, which opened up a 57-44 lead with 7:21 on the clock. Drew Prehmus led the Tigers’ run with eight points.
Virginia Wesleyan battled back to pull within a 68-62 score with 1:57 remaining, but could not get any closer. The Marlins’ attempts to get the ball resulted in fouls and the Tigers took advantage, hitting 7-of-8 freebies down the stretch to keep the Marlins at bay.
The win was the third in a row for H-SC and avenged a 75-60 loss to Virginia Wesleyan, at H-SC, earlier this season. The loss for VWC was the fourth in the last five outings and the first in 11 home court games for the Marlins this season.
Both teams finished with four players in double-figure scoring. Prehmus added 14 points to the Tigers’ cause and Bowne finished with12. Virginia Wesleyan was led by a career-high 15 points from sophomore Rodney Young. Marques Fitch added 12 points and Ton Ton Balenga and Brandon Adair added 11 points each.
Virginia Wesleyan returns to competition on Saturday, January 22, playing at Washington and Lee University a 2:00 p.m. H-SC will host Emory & Henry College at the same time on the same day.