Marlins Survive behind Big Games from Moore and Jones

HARRISONBURG, Va. -- Juniors Tim Jones and Khory Moore each scored 30 points as the Virginia Wesleyan College men's basketball team survived a 96-94 overtime scare against Eastern Mennonite University in Old Dominion Athletic Conference (ODAC) play Wednesday night.

The Marlins led by five at halftime before an early 15-3 spurt put Eastern Mennonite University ahead 55-48 just three and a half minutes into the final half. The Royals held the lead for the next nine minutes when a Moore free throw pulled the Marlins within a point, 67-66, in front of a Jones three-pointer that swung the edge back to VWC. No team led by more than four the rest of regulation.

Virginia Wesleyan led 83-81 with 1:35 to play when the defenses clamped down, forcing the opposition into an empty possession late in the shot clock. The score still locked at 83-81 with 31 seconds to go, Christian Hansen tipped in a Rayshawn Latimer layup to tie the contest.

A Marlin turnover and EMU steal prompted the hosts to call a timeout. Jerome Jones came out of the break and knocked down a three from the right wing, putting the Runnin' Royals up 86-83 with 20 seconds in the half.

The remainder of VWC's points would come at the charity stripe as Moore connected on a pair to cut the deficit back to one. Trailing 86-85, EMU fouled Kaelin Poe with one second on the clock. Poe connected on the first, but the second attempted rimmed out to send the game to overtime.

Poe scored the first six points in overtime for the Marlins while EMU collected four of its first seven points at the free throw line for a 93-92 lead with under a minute to play.

Virginia Wesleyan moved the ball around and found Moore a couple feet behind the top of the arc where he connected from range for a 95-93 lead with 32 seconds left.

Similar to the end of regulation, free throws played a part in the outcome as Isaiah Harris-Winn got sent to the line for EMU with an attempt to tie the game with 12 seconds left. He made the first attempt, but missed the second. The Royals immediately fouled Jones, who also only made one-of-two from the line.

EMU had a chance with nine seconds still on the clock, but the VWC defense forced a missed layup to seal the game.

Harris-Winn led Eastern Mennonite (6-7/1-4 ODAC) with 24 points, 10 rebounds and four assists while Latimer contributed 19 points and Jones, 17.

Virginia Wesleyan was paced by a career-high 30 points for Jones to go along with the 30 scored by Moore. Poe finished the evening with 14 points and 11 rebounds.

Virginia Wesleyan (9-5/4-1) travels to Randolph College (8-6/2-3) Saturday for a 2 p.m. ODAC start.