The Virginia Wesleyan University men's basketball team (18-7, 13-3 ODAC) defeated the University of Lynchburg (14-11, 9-7 ODAC), 81-76, on Saturday, February 21, 2026.
Omari Deveaux led the Marlins with an astounding 40 points, shooting 13-for-26 from the field, 3-for-10 beyond the arc, 11-for-13 from the free throw line, had seven rebounds, and one steal. T.J. East added a solid 13 points to the score, shooting 3-for-12 from the field, 3-for-7 from three point territory 4-for-4 from the free throw line, and grabbed seven rebounds.
Paul Anderson also tallied 9 points for the Marlins, shooting 3-for-6 from the field, 2-for-5 from beyond the arc, 1-for-2 from the free throw line, had six rebounds and stole the ball twice.
Virginia Wesleyan started the game strong, quickly establishing an early lead and maintaining control through much of the first half. However, with 3:32 remaining in the half, Lynchburg started a determined response, going on a 12-3 run fueled by aggressive drives to the basket. This late surge narrowed the gap, bringing the score to a close 39-37, setting up a highly competitive and tense second half.
The Hornets came out of the locker room strong, scoring the first points of the second half to even the game at 39-39. The Marlins quickly responded, mounting a 12-7 run over the next five minutes. Their attack on both ends of the floor allowed them to create a gap, taking a 51-44 lead and putting themselves in control right at the start. The Hornets battled back over the next few minutes, going on an 11-7 run to tie the game at 55-55 with 11:12 remaining. The two teams continued to trade baskets over the next nine minutes, keeping the game tightly contested. With just two minutes left, the score was 73-72. In the final moments, the Marlins executed a crucial 8-5 run, pulling ahead to 81-76 and securing a hard-fought victory.
