LYNCHBURG, Va. -- Virginia Wesleyan College's men's basketball team entered Saturday's Old Dominion Athletic Conference (ODAC) game at Lynchburg College as one of the nation's premier three-point shooting teams.

The Marlins departed Lynchburg the same way.

VWC drilled through 10 triples in the first half against the host Hornets, and finished hitting 13-of-21 treys overall, as the Marlins posted an impressive 93-73 victory in a battle between teams that were tied for third place in the ODAC's regular-season standings.

The victory improved VWC's league record to 8-2, and it's overall record to 15-4, while Lynchburg dropped to 7-3 in the loop and 14-5 overall.  The Marlins snapped a five-game Lynchburg winning streak.

Senior Aaron Clark (Virginia Beach/Tallwood) and junior Cameron Owens (Centreville/Centreville) hit 3-of-5 triples each in the first half, senior D.J. Woodmore (Virginia Beach/Landstown) connected on 2-of-2, and rookie Khory Moore (Arlington/Wakefield) scored on 2-of-3 to help the Marlins establish a lead and build on it consistent en route to a 53-35 halftime advantage

Virginia Wesleyan entered the game ranked No. 4 nationally in total triples made and triples per game (10.4), but more impressively ranked No. 1 against triples.  The Marlins improved in all three areas.  While VWC hit 13-of-21, a 61.9% effort, the Marlins limited the Hornets to just two triples in 10 attempts. The Marlins' 13 triples tied the second highest total by a VWC team on the road, matching the output in an 87-69 win at Salisbury University in 2008.

Lynchburg never led in the contest. Junior Greg Montgomery (Virginia Beach/Princess Anne) scored back-to-back layups to start the VWC scoring, seniorTrent Batson (Lewes, Del./Cape Henlopen) followed with a dunk, senior Colby Heard (Virginia Beach/Tallwood) added a layup, and Moore started the triple assault when hit his first attempt with 13:33 remaining in the first half.

VWC led 11-5 after that and rode triples by Clark, Woodmore, and Owens on a 13-7 scoring surge that opened up a 24-12 lead for the Marlins with 9:07 on the clock. The Marlins expanded on the lead by nailing six triples in the next five minutes to make it a 41-27 lead for VWC, which held the upperhand into the halftime break.

Second-half scoring started with a Heard dunk to produce a 55-35 Virginia Wesleyan lead.  Matters never really improved for Lynchburg after that.  VWC opened up a 25-point lead seconds later.  Lynchburg battled back, led by Manny Hernandez (Clifton Park, N.Y./Shenendehowa), to cut the lead to 12 points late in the game, but could not get closer.

After the Hornets made it an 82-70 game, Virginia Wesleyan scored nine unanswered points to expand its lead to 91-70 with 1:42 on the clock.

Woodmore, who ranks No. 18 nationally in triples made per game, hit 3-of-4 for the Marlins en route to a game-high 23 points.  He connected on 7-of-10 shots overall and tied Heard with a game-high eight rebounds.  Clark had a near perfect day shooting, hitting 5-of-7 shots overall, 4-of-6 triples, and 3-of-3 free throws, scoring 17 points overall.

Heard and Owens added to the offensive output with 12 points each.  Heard hit 5-of-6 shots and Owens connected on 4-of-7, including 3-of-6 from three-point range. Moore hit 3-of-4 triples, finishing with nine points for the Marlins.  Batson recorded four blocks.

Virginia Wesleyan enjoyed a solid day of shooting overall, hitting 58.8 percent in the first half and 58.5% overall.  Lynchburg managed only 39.3% from the field for the contest.

Sophomore Austen Arnold (Gate City/Gate City) paced Lynchburg with 19 points, connecting on 6-of-10 shots oveall.  Sophomore Alex Graves (Waynesboro/Wayensboro) followed with 16 points and Hernandez  tallied 12.

Virginia Wesleyan returns to competition Wednesday, Feb. 5, hosting the Royals of Eastern Mennonite University in ODAC play beginning at 7 p.m. at the Jane P. Batten Student Center.

--AMDG--