GREENSBORO, N.C. -- Chris Teasley hit the game's first jumper on Saturday giving Virginia Wesleyan College a lead it would never lose as the visiting Marlins pinned a 70-62 Old Dominion Athletic Conference loss on the host Quakers of Guilford College.
The Marlins hit five triples in the first seven minutes of the game between regionally-ranked teams at the Ragan-Brown Field House and opened up an 18-6 lead on a run capped by another triple, this one from juniorDJ Woodmore (Virginia Beach/Landstown), his third in the run.
Virginia Wesleyan (17-6, 12-2), ranked No. 6 in the most recent South Region poll, maintained a double-digit lead until the last five minutes of the first half. Guilford (16-7, 8-6), No. 8 in the South poll, came back with timely triples to cut into the lead as Josh Pittman (Archdale, N.C./Trinity) and Matt McCarthy (Rockville, Md./Good Counsel) both hit long rangers that helped to pull the Quakers within a 26-23 score with 3:03 remaining before halftime.
Woodmore cut off the rally when he attacked the basket for a layup that drew a foul. He converted the three point play and Tealsey (Newport News/Menchville) ended the half the same way he started it, with a score, as Virginia Wesleyan took a 31-25 lead into the break.
Virginia Wesleyan opened the second half with another triple as Chris Astorga (Suffolk/Virginia Beach Cape Henry Collegiate) fired it in to give the Marlins a 34-25 advantage. McCarthy and Pittman both came through with triples to help Guilford cut the spread to 42-40, but could not extend the comeback.
Astorga followed with four consecutive scores and junior Colby Heard (Virginia Beach/Tallwood) scored on a tip-in, as VWC pushed out to a 52-42 lead with 10:08 remaining to be played.
Guilford was able to trim the gap to three points a couple minutes later, only to see Virginia Wesleyan produce the scoring and defense to reopen the spread thereafter. After VWC extended its lead to eight points twice in the closing minutes, the Quakers pulled within four each time, but could not catch the Fish.
Tre' Ford and Teasley both hit padding free throws down the stretch and VWC took a 70-59 lead following a steal by rookie Sedric Nady (Chicago, Ill./Virginia Beach Landstown). His theft led to a Woodmore dunk to close the scoring for VWC.
Astorga led all scoring with 22 points, hitting 8-of-16 field goal attempts, including four triples. It marked his sixth 20+ scoring effort of the season. He also pulled down a game-high nine rebounds, his second highest total of the season.
Woodmore hit 5-of-8 field goals, including three triples and finished with 16 points, marking his 17th game in double-figure scoring this season. Teasley also recorded 16 points, hitting a season-best 8-of-8 free throws, and Heard hit 5-of-6 field goals for 11 points, tying his second highest total of the season. Ford led the Marlins with five assists and three steals.
Pittman led scoring for Guilford with 21 points, followed by Will Freeman (Foxfire, N.C./Richmond) with 12 points and McCarthy with 10.
Virginia Wesleyan returns to competition on Wednesday, Feb. 13, at Hampden-Sydney College at 7 p.m.
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