VIRGINIA BEACH -- When the offense wasn't working quite right Thursday, Virginia Wesleyan College's nationally ranked Marlins turned to the defense to turn away the upstart Bridgewater College Eagles.

Virginia Wesleyan, ranked No. 12 by BennettRank and No. 21 by D3hoops.com, fortified its defensive effort with a stellar effort inside, swatting away 13 Bridgewater shots en route to a 69-58 Old Dominion Athletic Conference (ODAC) win at the Jane P. Batten Student Center.

The block total tied the VWC single-game record set in 2009 against Methodist University.  Four Marlins recorded blocks, led by senior Trent Batson (Lewes, Del./Cape Henlopen) with a career-high six, the highest total by a Marlin player since standout Donald Vaughn knocked down six against Hampden-Sydney College in 2012.

Bridgewater senior Ed Reddick (Virginia Beach/Floyd E. Kellam) scored half of his team's total output, finishing with 29 points.  But, VWC's defense clamped down everywhere else, keeping the rest of the Eagles' contingent in single-digit numbers.  Tavis Stapleton (Carthage, Texas/Carthage) was the highest point produced after Reddick, netting nine points.

It was a total turnaround from the first time the teams played in Harrisonburg on January 8, when the Eagles had four players in double-figure scoring to lead Bridgewater to a 78-65 upset victory.  Bridgewater (9-8, 4-5) challenged the Marlins (14-4, 7-2) through much of the first half, before VWC started to take control.

In addition to recording six blocks, a steal and an assist, and a team-high 10 rebounds, Batson also came up with a couple of key baskets, including a crowd-rousing dunk with 5:27 remaining in the first half.  Rookie Kaelin Poe (Hampton/Kecoughtan) assisted on the play that gave VWC a 27-24 lead.

It was the start of a 9-3 scoring finish in the half for Virginia Wesleyan, which opened up a 34-27 lead by the break.  SeniorsD.J. Woodmore (Virginia Beach/Landstown) and Colby Heard (Virginia Beach/Tallwood) combined to score seven points in that run.

Heard's play in close offensively helped keep things in favor of the Marlins, despite an off-night from the field.  VWC connected on just 37.1%, including only 31.8% from three-point range.  Despite it all, different players stepped up to nail key baskets, led by Woodmore who scored 12 of his team-leading 18 points in the second half.  Rookie Khory Moore (Arlington/Wakefield) contributed with seven points, all in the second half.

Reddick hit a jumper to pull the Eagles within five to start the second half, but it would get no closer.  Woodmore followed with a triple to ignite a 13-5 scoring run that launched Virginia Wesleyan into a 47-34 lead with 15:33 to go.  Woodmore scored eight points in that surge and Moore hit a big triple.

Virginia Wesleyan went on to open at 60-45 lead with timely scoring, highlighted by a Clark triple and a ferocious dunk by Batson.  The lanky senior followed a shot by Greg Montgomery (Virginia Beach/Princess Anne) that missed, grabbed the rebound just as it left the rim, and jammed it back through the net to evoke a roar from the crowd.

The Marlins' largest lead of the game was 64-47 with 5:20 remaining.

While Woodmore finished with 18 points, seven rebounds, two steals, and an assist and a block, Heard hit 5-of-8 from the field to finish with 14 points. He also pulled down nine rebounds.  Sedric Nady (Virginia Beach/Landstown) and Clark both tallied nine points.

Bridgewater received eight points from Daniel McClain (Falls Church/Marshall) and six assists from Ronnie Thomas (Roanoke/Patrick Henry). The Eagles shot 33.3% from the field.  BC attempted only six triples and missed on all of them. 

Virginia Wesleyan returns to competition Saturday, Feb. 1, in ODAC action at Lynchburg College at 3 p.m. The host Hornets are currently 14-4 overall and 7-2 in the ODAC.

--AMDG--