The Marlins, ranked 23rd in this week's D3hoops.com NCAA Division III national poll, improved to 17-3 (12-1 ODAC) with their 15th straight win and completed a sweep of the season series with the Quakers (9-10, 7-5 ODAC).
Virginia Wesleyan's clutch free-throw shooting down the stretch and an ill-timed technical foul on Guilford's Jordan Snipes (Siler City, NC/Jordan-Matthews) helped the Marlins prevail. The Quakers trimmed a 13-point deficit with 4:56 left down to three points after Ben Strong's (Chapel Hill, NC/Chapel Hill) jumper made it a 75-72 game with 36 seconds remaining. The Marlins' TonTon Balenga (Newport News, VA/Warwick) made two free throws five seconds later and after a Quakers' miss at the other end, sank two technical free throws when Snipes fouled Thomas Sumpter (Hampton, VA/Bethel) with 19 seconds left. Sumpter made both free throws after Balenga's shots, effectively thwarting Guilford's comeback and providing the game's final margin.
Adair had 13 points at halftime, which helped the Marlins overcome a sluggish start and take a 39-38 lead at the break. Tyler Fantin (Virginia Beach, VA/Kellam) scored nine of his 14 points in the second half, including seven during a 14-2 Marlins' spurt that opened a 55-42 Virginia Wesleyan lead. Balenga added 13 points, 10 in the second half, plus seven rebounds and four assists. The Marlins shot 50 percent from the floor in the final 20 minutes and committed just 10 turnovers.
Strong finished with a game-high 23 points, 14 in the second half, plus six rebounds. Eric Belkoski (Rockingham, NC/Richmond Senior) got off to a torrid start with 11 first-half points and ended with a career-high 15 points. Snipes added 11 points and led Guilford with seven boards and six assists.
The Quakers host Randolph-Macon Sunday (1/29) at 2:00 p.m. The Yellow Jackets are ranked 18th in this week's D3hoops.com poll, but lost Saturday at Emory & Henry, 101-89. The Marlins visit Emory & Henry Sunday for a 2:00 p.m. game.
Virginia Wesleyan vs Guilford 01/28/06 2:00 p.m. at Greensboro, NC - Ragan-Brown Field House At Greensboro, NC - Ragan-Brown Field House VIRGINIA WESLEYAN 81, GUILFORD 72 VIRGINIA WESLEYAN (17-3, 12-1 ODAC) ADAIR, Brandon 10-18 1-4 21; FANTIN, Tyler 5-8 3-3 14; BALENGA, TonTon 3-10 6-6 13; SUMPTER, Thomas 3-5 4-4 10; TUCKER, D'Juan 2-5 0-0 5; GREEN, Tory 2-4 0-0 5; FITCH, Marques 2-6 0-0 5; DIXON, Terrell 1-2 2-2 4; YOUNG, Rodney 1-2 0-1 2; TOWELL, Matt 1-1 0-0 2; PASCHAL, Ari' 0-1 0-0 0. Totals 30-62 16-20 81. GUILFORD (9-10, 7-5 ODAC) STRONG, Ben 9-15 5-7 23; BELKOSKI, Eric 7-12 0-0 15; SNIPES, Jordan 3-12 2-2 11; KIMBROUGH, Caleb 3-6 0-0 7; BURGE, Thomas 3-4 0-0 6; NEVILLE, George 3-3 0-0 6; WELLS, Barry 0-3 2-4 2; LOCKETT, L.T. 0-3 2-2 2; COSTON, Jordan 0-2 0-0 0; PAYNE, Josh 0-1 0-0 0. Totals 28-61 11-15 72. Virginia Wesleyan............. 39 42 - 81 Guilford...................... 38 34 - 72 3-point goals-Virginia Wesleyan 5-17 (TUCKER, D'Juan 1-2; FANTIN, Tyler 1-1; BALENGA, TonTon 1-5; FITCH, Marques 1-4; GREEN, Tory 1-3; PASCHAL, Ari' 0-1; DIXON, Terrell 0-1), Guilford 5-15 (SNIPES, Jordan 3-5; BELKOSKI, Eric 1-5; KIMBROUGH, Caleb 1-2; LOCKETT, L.T. 0-1; COSTON, Jordan 0-1; PAYNE, Josh 0-1). Fouled out--Virginia Wesleyan-None, Guilford-None. Rebounds-Virginia Wesleyan 34 (ADAIR, Brandon 8), Guilford 37 (SNIPES, Jordan 7). Assists-Virginia Wesleyan 17 (BALENGA, TonTon 4), Guilford 18 (SNIPES, Jordan 6). Total fouls-Virginia Wesleyan 14, Guilford 20. A-397 Old Dominion Athletic Conference game.