VIRGINIA BEACH (VA) – The Delaware Valley College men's basketball team opened its 2014-15 campaign with an 82-66 setback to The Apprentice School in the opening round of the Marlin Tip-Off Tournament at Virginia Wesleyan College.

The loss dropped the Aggies into Sunday's consolation game (1:00 p.m.) against The College of New Jersey, which suffered a 91-60 loss to the host Marlins. The Apprentice School, a non-NCAA program which won 16 games last season, improved to 3-0 this year.

Delaware Valley struggled to find its shooting touch all evening as they hit just 22 of 60 shots from the field (36.7%), including a 7-for-19 effort from 3-point land. The Aggies were also outrebounded, 49-30.

The Builders never trailed in the game and used an 11-5, first-half run to up a 17-14 advantage to 28-19. They led 39-27 at the break. Delaware Valley got to within six, 49-43, after Jay Donovan hit one of two free throws with 13:25 remaining. However, The Apprentice School scored 16 of the game's next 22 points for a 65-49 advantage and the Aggies never threatened again.

Tony Walton came off the bench to score 18 points in 16 minutes for the Builder. Jamal Curry (16 points, 10 rebounds) and Jay Melendez (13 points, 10 rebounds) notched double-doubles in the game.

Junior transfer Barry Brockington had 15 points and four rebounds in 22 minutes off the bench to lead Delaware Valley. Fellow transfers Jose Ortiz and Manny Ochenje had 11 and eight points respectively while senior guard Nick Sullivan also had eight points. All-conference and all-region guard Francis Arnold managed just four points on 2-for-11 shooting.