NORFOLK, Va. -- One streak ended and another was extended Saturday as No. 5 Virginia Wesleyan College handed Hampton Roads rival Christopher Newport University an 89-74 setback.
Playing in the second game of the Coaches vs. Cancer double-header at Old Dominion University's Ted Constant Center, the nationally ranked Marlins took the lead for good with 4:23 remaining in the first half. VWC out-scored the Captains 18-2 in a four-minute span to take control in the non-conference game.
The Marlins (16-2) snapped a current 12-game winning streak for CNU (16-4), which lost for the first time since December. The win also gave Virginia Wesleyan its 10th consecutive win over CNU.
CNU lead early in the first half, pushing out to a 27-19 spread after Paul Meredith (Hampton, Va./Bethel) hit a pair of free throws with 6:52 on the clock. But, the Marlins turned up the defensive pressure, helping to force four CNU turnovers, and turned the miscues to points. After a dunk by Chris Astorga (Suffolk, Va./Virginia Beach Cape Henry Collegiate) pulled VWC within one, he followed a missed shot by the Captains with a three-pointer that put the Marlins in front...to stay.
Chris Teasley (Newport News, Va./Menchville) followed a CNU turnover with a dunk and senior Rakeem Davis (Chesapeake, Va./Deep Creek) came up with a big steal that led to a triple by Tre' Ford (Falls Church, Va./J.E.B. Stuart). Another miss was rebound by Davis and senior Donald Vaughn (Woodbridge, Va./Dumfries Potomac) followed with a jumper that put the Marlins in front 37-29.
Rookie Nik Biberaj (Fairfax, Va./South County) and senior Conley Taylor (Newport News, Va./Menchville) helped bring the Captins back within a poin in the final seconds of the half, but Astorga padded the spread with VWC with points, including a triple just before the buzzer to put VWC in front 42-36.
Virginia Wesleyan led by as many as 13 points in the first six minutes of the second half and used key scoring fromD.J. Woodmore (Virginia Beach/Landstown), Art Crew (Williamsburg, Va./Lafayette), Ford and Teasley to keep the Captains at bay in the second half. Rookie Mike Cherry (Lewiston, N.C./Bertie) nailed a triple to pull CNU within a 64-59 score with 11:12 on the clock, but Virginia Wesleyan came back with scores from Astorga, Ford, and Woodmore to pull away.
Vaughn gave Virginia Wesleyan its largest lead of the game, 82-66, on a layup with 4:03 remaining.
All five Virginia Wesleyan starters scored in double figures, led by Astorga with 25 points. He nailed 10-of-17 shot, including 3-of-5 triples, and pulled down a team-high eight rebounds. Woodmore added 22 points, scoring in doubles for a 15th time this season. He hit 8-of-18 from the field, nailed three triples, and dished out six assists.
Vaughn finished with 16 points and a team-leading three blocks, and Ford and Teasley added 10 points each. Ford dished out a game-high eight assists and produced three steal. Crew contributed with six rebounds.
Cherry led CNU with 26 points, hitting 9-of-11 free throws. Biberaj added 21 points, on 9-of-15 shooting from the field. Adam Otey (New Kent, Va./New Kent) led all rebounding with 10 boards. Luc Atangana (Yaounde, Cameoon/Paul VI, Va.) added nine boards.
CNU won the rebounding battle 40-36, while Virginia Wesleyan helped itself with a 20-7 advantage in assists. The Marlins also hit 8-of-19 triples, while CNU connected on just 1-of-13 attempts from long range.
Virginia Wesleyan returns to competition on Monday, Jan. 30, motoring to Lexington, Va. to face the Generals of Washington & Lee University in Old Dominion Athletic Conference competition beginning at 7 p.m. CNU will compete again on Tuesday, Jan. 31, hosting North Carolina Wesleyan College in USA South Athletic Conference action beginning at 7:30 p.m.
--AMDG--