Marlins Win Defensive Battle with WildCats

VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. – The Virginia Wesleyan College men's basketball team scored just 50 points on Wednesday evening, but that would prove to be enough as the Marlins defeated Randolph College 50-42 in Old Dominion Athletic Conference (ODAC) action.

It took nearly three minutes for points to appear on the scoreboard as Corey Brown's layup put Randolph up 2-0. The two teams went back and forth, tying three different times in the first 10 minutes of play.

Randolph maintained a 14-12 lead with 4:43 to play until the halftime break when a Virginia Wesleyan run pushed the Marlins out in front.

Keijon Honore started the run with a three-pointer off a Tim Jones assist. Following a Jones steal, Honore was fouled and knocked down a pair of free throws for a 17-14 edge. Another empty possession by Randolph resulted in more points for the Marlins as Kaelin Poescored from inside off a Honore assist. Poe was fouled on the play and converted at the charity stripe for the old-fashioned three-point play. The Marlin big man drew a foul on the next play as well, making both free throws for a 22-14 lead with 2:51 to play in the first, capping the 10-0 run for Virginia Wesleyan.

Randolph trailed 23-15 when a steal by Honore led to a fast-break dunk by Khory Moore. He broke free again on the next possession, getting fouled on a transition layup for the three-point play and 28-15 lead, the largest in the half for Virginia Wesleyan.

Randolph managed to cut the Marlin lead to seven early in the second half, but the Marlins led by double figures for most of the final period.

Poe proved to be a tough player to stop as the WildCats battled foul trouble all second half. Nick Goble, Jason Eddie and Zach Desgain finished with four fouls while Rhyle Scott fouled out while trying to defend Poe.

Desgain led Randolph (10-10/4-7) with 18 points and seven rebounds while Scott finished with eight caroms.

Poe paced the Marlins with 15 points and 13 rebounds for his fourth double-double of the season. The 13 boards was one off a career high. Moore finished with 12 points, five rebounds and four assists.

Virginia Wesleyan (15-6/9-2) will look to maintain its first place lead in the ODAC with a road contest at Emory & Henry College (11-9/5-6) on Saturday at 2 p.m.