HAMPDEN-SYDNEY, Virginia - The No. 13 VWU men's basketball team narrowly defeated the Tigers of Hampden-Sydney College 69-65 on Wednesday evening in an ODAC midweek matchup in Hampden-Sydney, Va. The Marlins move to 19-3 overall and 11-2 in ODAC competition, while the Tigers are now 13-9 and 8-5. 

INSIDE THE SCORE
The game began with the teams trading baskets early on as Hampden-Sydney got on the board first but Virginia Wesleyan led 5-4 after two shots from each team. Corey Pelham hit a three to give VWU the edge. The Tigers countered with a 7-3 run taking an 11-8 lead that they held until the 12:30 mark of the first half. Tim Fisher scored six consecutive points for the Marlins to tie the game at 12 all with just under 10 minutes to play. Three ties and three lead changes occurred over six minutes and ended when Percy Burt made a jump shot that gave the Marlins an 18-16 lead that they grew to 24-16 by the four-minute mark. An 8-2 run by the Tigers closed out the half as Hampden-Sydney pulled within two-points, 26-24, of the Marlins at the break.

HSC scored six quick points to start the second half and take a 30-26 lead before the first two minutes had passed. The Marlins stuck with the Tigers and chipped away at the lead and knotted the score at 36 all following a 10-6 run that saw eight points come from Jordan White in the five-minute span. A three-pointer from Pelham put VWU back on top and he followed with three free throws to lead 42-37 with just over 12 to play. The Marlins increased their lead to nine points, 46-37, before the Tigers clawed back within three, 46-43 (9:07), following a 6-0 run. VWU went on an 11-5 run taking a 57-48 lead by the five-minute mark after Jordan Crump converted a three-pointer off the Miles Wallace pass. Virginia Wesleyan had at one point a 13-point lead, 61-48, but Hampden-Sydney close the game to four, 61-57, following nine unanswered points by the Tigers. The Marlins remaining eight points came from free throws in the final minutes of the game while all by three of the Tigers points came from free throws with the final basket of the game being a three-pointer from Ryan Clements to put the final score at 69-65 in VWU's favor.

NO. 13 VIRGINIA WESLEYAN LEADERS
The Marlins were led by Corey Pelham with 27 points shooting 6-of-12 from the field and 11-12 from the free-throw line. Tim Fisher added 19 points and six rebounds while Jordan White collected 10 points for the Marlins.

HAMPDEN-SYDNEY LEADERS
The Tigers were led by Ryan Clements and Jake Hahn with 18 points apiece. Chaise Johnson added 16 from the bench while Kevin Quinn led all players with 11 rebounds. 

KEY MOMENT
The key moment of the game came in the middle of the second half when the Marlins opened a nine-point lead over the Tigers. The lead was just enough to give VWU a slight cushion that they held on to for the win.

UP NEXT
No. 13 Virginia Wesleyan continues their road trip by heading to Emory, Va., for a weekend game against the Wasps of Emory & Henry College. The Marlins and Wasps tipoff at 2 p.m. in the last regular-season road game for VWU.