No spin moves, no slam dunks, no scoop baskets for Green (Colonial Heights, Va./Colonial Heights) or Cizek (Avon, Conn./Avon), but just heads-up play that produced the first points of the season for each player. Green knocked down a pair of free throws after being fouled on a move to the basket and Cizek stripped the net from the top of the key for a three-pointer that capped Virginia Wesleyan scoring with 11 seconds to play.
Cizek’s triple also capped a record-setting afternoon of long-range shooting for the Marlins, who knocked down a program-record 15 triples in 23 attempts from six different VWC players. The 15 triples topped the former record of 14 set against Emory & Henry College in 1997 and tied against Lycoming College in 2001 and Bethany College in 2002.
Sophomore TonTon Balenga (Newport News, Va./Warwick) led the long-range effort, connecting on a career-high 6-of-10, the fourth highest total in program history. His total was only three off the school mark and was witnessed by the man who set the VWC record at nine against Roanoke College in 1989 ... Guilford head coach Tom Palombo, a Marlin standout from 1985 through 1989.
Palombo’s record holding up was one of the few bright spots of the night for the Quakers (4-8, 2-3), who were victimized by Virginia Wesleyan’s quickness, depth and an aggressive defense that produced 15 steals, the seventh best total in program history. That combination propelled Virginia Wesleyan to a ninth consecutive victory, improved the Marlins’ overall record to 11-3 and their ODAC record to 6-1.
But, it was Virginia Wesleyan’s 65.2 percent shooting effort from behind-the-arc, the fourth highest in program history, that did the most damage. The Marlins hit seven in a row in an eight-minute span in the first half to turn a 5-4 lead into a 26-16 lead and proceeded to roll to 48-30 halftime lead. VWC hit 16 field goals in the half, including 11 three-pointers, five from Balenga.
Virginia Wesleyan’s uncanny 11-of-16 long-range showing in the first half was part of another solid night from the floor for the Marlins, who hit 51.8 percent overall. Sophomore D’Juan Tucker (Dumfries, Va./Forest Park) recorded a perfect day of shooting, hitting 3-of-3 fielders, all from three-point range, and 2-of-2 free throws en route to 11 points.
Tucker was one of four Marlins in double-figure scoring, led by Balenga with 22 points, senior Marques Fitch (Virginia Beach, Va./Floyd E. Kellam) with 16 and junior Brandon Adair (Virginia Beach, Va./Princess Anne) with 13. While Balenga connected on 8-of-14 shots overall, Fitch and Adair both hit on 5-of-7.
Eric Belkoski tried to jump-start the Quakers at the start of the second half with back-to-back baskets, but it was only a temporary spark. Tucker hit a triple off an assist from junior Thomas Sumpter (Hampton, Va./Bethel) to divert momentum back to Virginia Wesleyan, which put together a 13-0 run to open up a 62-34 lead with 14:47 to play.
Ben Strong, Caleb Kimbrough and Ray Edmond came up with timely scores to help Guilford whittle the spread to 17 points with 6:45 on the clock, but that was as close as it would get. Virginia Wesleyan outscored the Quakers 13-4 the rest of the way, with Green and Cizek entering the game in the final minutes and sparking the crowd.
Strong, a 6-foot-10 sophomore, led Guilford with 19 points, hitting 8-of-10 shots. Jordan Snipes was the only other Quaker in double-figure scoring, netting 10 points. Virginia Wesleyan helped itself by outrebounding the Quakers 31-24, led by Balenga with six boards. He also led the effort in steals in three. Sumpter recorded six assists for the Marlins, who finished with 19.
Virginia Wesleyan returns to competition on Wednesday, January 11, hosting the Eagles of Bridgewater College in another ODAC contest. Game-time is 7 p.m.
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