LEXINGTON, Va. -- Michael Hegar (Cary, N.C./Grace Christian) nailed a triple to pull Washington and Lee University's Generals within a 17-16 score with 6:31 remaining in the first half Saturday, but Virginia Wesleyan College's Marlins answered with back-to-back treys and it was never that close again.

Sophomores Khory Moore (Arlington/Wakefield School) and Tim Jones (Richmond/Henrico) connected on the timely threes that opened up the lead in an 8-1 lead for the Marlins who steadily pulled away in the Old Dominion Athletic Conference contest. VWC led 31-23 at halftime and posted a 71-53 victory in its final road game of the regular season.

The victory was the second of the season over the Generals for VWC, which entered the game ranked No. 5 in the nation and No. 2 in the South Region.

Moore tied a season-high by drilling through seven triples in nine attempts and topped all scorers with 26 points, his eighth 20+ effort of the season.  Senior Brandon Mitchell (Albany, Ga./Westover) came through with 13 points, helped by a 7-of-10 showing from the free throw lines, and senior Greg Montgomery (Virginia Beach/Princess Anne), tallied 12 points.

Clayton Murtha (Dallas, Texas/Highland Park), who led Washington and Lee scoring with 19 points, hit a couple of free throws to pull the Generals with six points in the first two minutes of the second half.  But, Montgomery countered with four straight freebies and Moore ripped through a triple, increasing VWC's lead to 38-25 with 17:43 on the clock.

Scoring from Cam Owens (Centreville/Centreville), Mitchell, and Moore helped Virginia Wesleyan to open up a 50-29 advantage, before Andy Kleinlein (Chesterfield, Mo./Chaminade College Prep) scored five straight points for the Generals. But Virginia Wesleyan rebuilt its lead to 24 points and rode the lead through the final eight minutes.

VWC finished with a slim 35-34 edge in rebounding, led by Owens with nine and Mitchell with seven. Kleinlein led the General with eight.  Montgomery produced a game-hyigh five assists and Owens finished with a game-high three steals.

Murtha was the only W&L player to score in double figures.  Kleinlein added nine points.

Virginia Wesleyan closes the regular season with two home games, beginning Wednesday, Feb. 18, when the Marlins host the Tigers of Hampden-Sydney College in ODAC play beginning at 7 p.m.

--AMDG--