Guilford Upsets Virginia Wesleyan for Key ODAC Men's Basketball Win

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2-17-16

 

VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. – Zachary Houston scored 10 of his career- and team-high 13 points in the second half of Guilford College's 71-60 Old Dominion Athletic Conference (ODAC) basketball win over league-leading Virginia Wesleyan College.

The Marlins (17-6, 12-2 ODAC) entered the game ranked second in the latest NCAA Division III South Region rankings released earlier in the day. Guilford (15-9, 10-5 ODAC) ended Virginia Wesleyan's five-game winning streak, but the Marlins retained their one-game lead in the ODAC standings as Lynchburg College moved into a share second place with Roanoke College by outlasting the Maroons, 150-145, in two overtimes Wednesday night.

Guilford's win clinches a top-four position in the regular-season standings and a first-round bye in next week's ODAC Tournament.

Virginia Wesleyan's Khory Moore started the second-half scoring with a three-pointer, which opened a 32-27 Marlins' lead. The basket also marked the hosts' lone field goal for the next eight minutes and eight seconds as Guilford embarked on a decisive 19-1 run. The Quakers scored 19 straight points and limited Virginia Wesleyan to 0-for-7 field-goal shooting and forced six turnovers during the spurt.

Virginia Wesleyan tried to get back into the game and drew to within 66-60 on Moore's fourth and final three-pointer of the night with 43 seconds left in regulation. The Quakers sealed the win at the free-throw line by making five-of-six shots.

Houston entered the game averaging four points per game and shooting 27.3 percent from three-point range, but the junior point guard knocked down two trifectas on back-to-back attempts in the final six minutes. Houston added eight rebounds, four assists and three steals. He turned the ball over just once in 40 minutes. Thompson notched his team-leading third double-double of the year with 12 points and a game-best 10 boards. Trevor Mayo also scored 12 and drained both three-point shots. The Quakers enjoyed a 52-29 rebounding edge, which included 23 offensive boards that resulted in 25 second-chance points. Virginia Wesleyan had just nine such points.

Moore's 20 points and six rebounds paced the home team. Tim Jones was the only other Marlin in double-figures with 19 and also had four steals.

Coach Tom Palombo's Quakers close the regular season Saturday (2/20) at Eastern Mennonite University.