Box Score SALISBURY, Maryland - The Virginia Wesleyan University men's basketball team fell 67-58 on the road to the Sea Gulls of Salisbury University. The Marlins fall to 0-3 on the season while the Sea Gulls won their season opener. 

INSIDE THE SCORE
The game began with the teams trading baskets with the score sitting at 4-4 as the clock neared the 17-minute mark. A three by Salisbury's Jordan Oates started a 9-0 run by the Sea Gulls whose lead had grown to 13-4 with under 14 minutes remaining in the opening half. A layup by Brandon Cline broke up the run by SU, who continued to roll past VWU opening up a 12-point lead, 20-8, with 10:31 on the clock. The Sea Gulls lead grew to as much as 15 points, 25-10 (8:59), but the Marlins kicked it in gear going on a 13-0 run over the next five minutes to climb within a basket of Salisbury who led 25-23. SU reclaimed a six-point lead, 29-23 following a three by Oates and a free throw from Ryan Marshall, but VWU closed the gap to two again, 29-27, after Miles Wallace connected on a layup and Tim Fisher converted a pair of free throws with two minutes until the halftime horn. The final two minutes saw the Sea Gulls extend the lead back out the six points, 33-27, as Oates added another three-pointer and Johnny Fierstien split his pair of free throws before the time ran out in the opening half of action. 

After VWU scored the first basket of the second half on a jumper by Corey Pelham, the Sea Gulls took control opening up a nine-point lead, 38-29, with just over 16 minutes to play. Marcus Stephens closed the gap to seven points after connecting on a layup, but SU's Rob Goyena hit a three-pointer to take a 10-point lead, 41-31. Stephens responded with a three of his own cutting the Salisbury lead to seven points and Tim Fisher pulled VWU within four, 41-37, following an and-one three-point play that consisted of a made jumper and free throw by the senior from Richmond, VA. Salisbury's lead grew to 11-points following back-to-back threes from the Gulls as the clock ticked under 10 minutes to play. Lamont Steward and Tim Fisher made back-to-back baskets for the Marlins climbing back within seven points, 49-42, as the teams entered the final eight minutes of action. After trading baskets the Sea Gulls opened up another 10-point lead, 55-45, but saw the Marlins cut that lead to five-points three times over the next six minutes with a jumper by Tyree Golston putting the score at 59-54 with 2:17 left to play. Despite the Marlins fight, the Sea Gulls managed to keep a hold of a five-plus point lead through the last two-minutes of action and ended the game with four consecutive free throws to win by nine points, 67-58. 

VIRGINIA WESLEYAN LEADERS
The Marlins were led by seniors Tim Fisher and Tyree Golston. Fisher contributed 13 points and four rebounds while Golston added 12 points, three rebounds, and three steals. Corey Pelham, Marcus Stephens. and Miles Wallace each added seven points with Wallace leading the Marlins in rebounds with five in the contest. 

SALISBURY LEADERS
The Sea Gulls were led by Jordan Oates with 23 points including five three-pointers, four of which came in the opening half of play. Oates also led the rebounding game pulling in 16 for the Sea Gulls including eight in the first half. Brandon Craig and Johnny Fierstein both added double-digit points with 14 and 11 points scored respectively. 

KEY MOMENT
The key moment of the game came during a five-minute window of the second half that saw the Sea Gulls open up a 10-point lead, 55-45, with 4:24 remaining in the game. Those 10-points were just enough to hold off the Marlins whose shots did not fall in their favor. 

UP NEXT
The Virginia Wesleyan Marlins will return to action on January 23 when they play host to ODAC opponent Randolph College at the newly renovated TowneBank Arena in Virginia Beach, VA. Tip-off is scheduled for 4:30 pm and will follow the women's game. A note of importance, no fan are permitted to attend any home game this season per a conference wide policy passed by the Old Dominion Athletic Conference Presidents Council.