The Virginia Wesleyan men's basketball team (19-9, 9-7 ODAC) was defeated by #2 seed Hampden-Sydney 63-52 in the ODAC Championship Tournament Semi-Finals. 

Paul Anderson led the team with 10 points, shooting 4-for-7 from the field, 1-for-1 from beyond the arc, and 1-for-1 from the free throw line, had three rebounds, and one steal, Waylo Wilson had nine points, shooting 4-for-7 from the field, 1-for-2 from the charity stripe, five rebounds, and three assists, and Amari Moorer had eight points, shooting 4-for-9 from the field, with five rebounds, and one block. 

Keys to the Game:

• The Tigers shot 23-for-61 (37.7%) from the field, 8-for-26 (30.8%) from deep, and 9-for-11 (81.8%) from the free throw line, while the Marlins shot 22-for-59 (37.3%) from the field, 4-for-13 (308%) from beyond the arc, and 4-for-6 (66.7%) from the charity stripe.
• Hampden-Sydney had the advantage down low outrebounding the Marlins 44-32, with 16 offensive rebounds and 28 defensive rebounds, with 16 second chance points. 
• The Marlins bench was much more effective scoring 26 points compared to the Tigers' seven, and outscored Hampden-Sydney in the paint 32-22. 

How It Happened:

The Tigers came out strong jumping out to a 9-2 lead in the first five minutes of the game, but the Marlins responded with a 9-5 run over the next five minutes to cut the score to 14-11. 

Virginia Wesleyan kept up the pressure and outscored Hampden-Sydney 10-5 over the next three minutes to take a 21-19 lead with 7:02 left in the half. Sydney hit back-to-back threes to take a 25-21 lead over the Marlins. VWU responded with a 9-2 run to end the first half with a 30-27 lead. 

Hampden-Sydney came out of the break strong going on a 9-2 run to lead 26-32 with 15:14 left in regulation. The Marlins chipped away at the Tigers lead going on a 7-4 run to bring the score to 40-39. 

Neither team made a basket over the next four minutes of play until the Tigers hit one to lead 42-39 at the 9:51 mark. Virginia Wesleyan went on a 6-2 run to take a 45-44 lead with 7:15 left in the second half, but Hampden-Sydney went on an 8-2 run to lead 52-47. 

With less than four minutes in the game, the Tigers hit a three to go up 55-47. The next possession the Marlins were fouled and made two free throws to bring the score to 55-49. The Tigers made clutch free throws down the line going 6-for-6 in the last three minutes of play to put the game out of reach for the Marlins and won 63-52.