Marlins Open ODAC Play with 76-61 Victory

VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. -- The No. 2 ranked Virginia Wesleyan College men's basketball team pulled away in the second half to defeat Emory & Henry College 76-61 in the Old Dominion Athletic Conference (ODAC) opener for both teams.

The Marlins jumped out to a 24-8 lead in the first half while allowing the Wasps to convert on just three made baskets in the first 12 minutes. 

Emory & Henry started to cut into the lead a little bit at a time, getting it back within single digits, 34-25, on an Alic Wynn free throw with 1:37 left in the half.

A Daevon Brown putback dunk and a fast break layup by Tim Jones off a Brown steal and assist netted the Marlins the 38-25 edge, but once again the Wasps would gain momentum before the half as Johnny McClean connected from 75 feet from the basket as the buzzer sounded for the 38-30 halftime score.

The game stayed close early in the second half with Virginia Wesleyan leading by just seven points, 51-44, as Myles Turner converted from the free throw line with 13:09 left in the game.

The Marlins pulled away following the Turner attempts, putting the game away for the first conference victory of the season.

Keijon Honore started the run with a three-pointer off a Corey White, Jr. assist before Khory Moore scored a jumper on the next possession. Back-to-back dunks by Brown finished off the 9-0 run to put VWC up 60-44 with 10 minutes to play. The Wasps would get no closer than 14 the rest of the way.

Turner finished with 15 points, five rebounds, and three assists as Wynn ended with nine points and eight boards for Emory & Henry (2-3/0-1 ODAC).

Moore led the way with 20 points for Virginia Wesleyan as White, Jr. finished with a career-high 14 points to go with seven rebounds. Jones finished with eight points, five boards, and eight assists on the afternoon.

Virginia Wesleyan (3-2/1-0) will host N.C. Wesleyan College at 2 p.m. Sunday in non-conference action.