Second Chance Opportunities for Quakers end Marlins Season

SALEM, Va. - The No. 5-seeded Virginia Wesleyan College men's basketball team could not put away No. 1 Guilford College Saturday in an ODAC semifinal contest, falling 67-64.

The Marlins came out red hot as senior Tim Jones scored eight of the Marlins first 10 points. The Marlins held the lead almost the entire first half, leading by as many as 16, 37-21, with 2:56 to play until intermission.

The Quakers rallied just before the half, cutting into the Marlin 16-point lead. Zachary Houston and Carson Long each contributed 3-pointers before a Marcus Curry layup capped an 8-0 run to end the half with the Quakers trailing 37-29.

The Quakers continued the run early in the second half, scoring the first pour points to finish off a 12-0 run. Guilford continued to take it one possession at a time and chipped away. GC trailed 40-39 before scoring four-straight points to take a three point lead with 13:47 to play, its first lead of the contest since leading 2-0.

The Marlins kept battling, but rebounds and second chance opportunities on the offensive end helped the Quakers come out on top. Guilford led the rebounding margin 46-27, with 17 coming on the offensive end. The Quakers held a 12-0 advantage in second-chance points.

Virginia Wesleyan trailed 65-61 with 1:28 to play after Houston put away a layup for the Quakers, but Andre Banks connected on a trifecta from Keijon Honore.

The Marlins forced an empty possession on the next Quakers possession, but could not take the lead on the offensive end, forcing VWC to foul.

Guilford missed the subsequent free throw, but Long managed to grab the rebound with 16 seconds left on the clock. The Marlins fouled Jaylen Gore, who was able to connect on the pair for a three-point lead, 67-64, lead with 11 seconds to play. The Marlins had time for one more play but could not connect to tie up the contest.

Long led No. 1 Guilford (22-5) with 16 points as Dominique Henderson added 14 to go with 11 rebounds from Houston.

The Marlins finished with three players in double-figures as Banks led the squad with 15 points as Jones added 14, and Khory Moore, 11.

The Marlins conclude the season with a 19-9 overall record and 10-6 in ODAC play. Guilford advances to face No. 3 Emory & Henry College in the ODAC Championship Sunday at 1 p.m. for the league's automatic bid to the NCAA Division III Tournament.