SALISBURY, Md. -- A late rally by Virginia Wesleyan College's men fell short on the road Tuesday as the host Sea Gulls of Salisbury University held on for a 68-65 non-conference victory.

While Salisbury won its fourth straight game to start the season, the Marlins, ranked No. 1 in the national preseason polls, fell in their season opener.

But, it wasn't without a thrilling finish by the Marlins.  D.J. Woodmore (Virginia Beach/Landstown), Chris Teasley (Newport News, Va./Menchville), Donald Vaughn (Woodbridge, Va./Dumfries Potomac), and Chris Astorga (Suffolk, Va./Virginia Beach Cape Henry) led a VWC charge that outscored Salisbury 13-3 to pull the Marlins within a 66-65 score with 13 seconds on the clock.

Virginia Wesleyan was forced to foul to get the ball back in the final seconds and Salisbury's Tim Harwood (Rockville, Md./Magruder) hit two free throws to push the lead back to 68-65 for the Gulls.  Virginia Wesleyan had a final shot to tie the game, but a triple attempt byAli Brown (Hampton, Va./Kecoughtan) missed the mark.

VWC led 18-17 with 8:52 in the first half following a jumper by Tre' Ford (Falls Church, Va./J.E.B. Stuart), but Harwood answered with a triple for Salisbury and the Gulls led the rest of the way.  SU led 32-26 at halftime and maintained the lead throughout the second half, before VWC's final charge.

Virginia Wesleyan out-scored Salisbury 56-44 from the field, but could not keep pace with the Gulls from the foul lines.  Salisbury attempted 35 freebies and hit 24, while Virginia Wesleyan hit only nine of 19 attempts.  VWC also dominated on the backboards, 38-22.

Vaughn led VWC with 15 points, followed by Teasley with 11.

Mike Atkins (Annapolis, Md./Broadneck) scored 15 points for Salisbury, which received 12 points each from Mike Maczko (Bel Air, Md./John Carroll) and Harwood, and 11 from Jason Nwosu (Silver Spring, Md./Blake).

Virginia Wesleyan returns to competition on Friday, Nov. 25, and Saturday, Nov. 26, both on the road in the Yellow Jacket Classic in Ashland, Va.  The Marlins face two Texas teams, beginning with Trinity University on Friday and Southwestern University on Saturday.  Both games begin at 2 p.m.

--AMDG--