Game Box Score

HAMPDEN-SYDNEY, VA (December 1, 2004)—Virginia Wesleyan College claimed a 75-60 victory over Hampden-Sydney College in Old Dominion Athletic Conference basketball action Wednesday night in S. Douglas Fleet Gymnasium.  The loss drops the Tigers to 3-2 overall and 0-1 in the ODAC as the Marlins improve to 5-0 overall and 1-0 in conference play.

In a rematch of the 2004 ODAC Championship contest, Virginia Wesleyan got the better of defending champion Hampden-Sydney as junior guard Marques Fitch scored 17 points to lead four Marlins in double-figures in scoring.  Sophomore forward Brandon Adair scored 16 points to go with a team-high nine rebounds, while Peter Warren and Thomas Sumter each added 12 points. 

Hampden-Sydney was paced by senior guard Brian Gunn (Danville, VA/GW Danville) with a team-high 13 points, while junior guard Matt Guill (Emmaus, PA/Emmaus) scored a career-best 12 points. 

Virginia Wesleyan led by five at the halftime break, 30-25, but opened a 14-point advantage, 45-31, by the 12:23 mark on a Marques Fitch layup.  The Tigers rallied, thanks to three’s by Guill and sophomore guard Mike Edwards (Richmond, VA/Steward School), with a 14-7 run over the next four minutes to trim the Marlin lead to seven points (52-45).  However, consecutive three’s by Fitch and Peter Warren capped off a 9-4 Marlin run that gave Virginia Wesleyan another 14 point lead (63-49) with 4:51 to play. 

The Marlins stretched their lead to as much as 18 points (73-55) over the final four minutes as Thomas Sumter knocked down six straight free throws to offset a Brian Gunn three, while a Troy Kaase (Roanoke, VA/Cave Spring) layup at the buzzer for the Tigers made the final score, 75-60. 

Virginia Wesleyan shot 45 percent (26-58) from the floor, 32 percent (6-for-19) from three-point range and 85 percent (17-20) from the line.  Hampden-Sydney meanwhile, canned 39 percent (22-for-57) from the floor, 29 percent (5-for-17) from beyond the arc and 79 percent (11-for-14) from the free throw line, while out-rebounding the Marlins, 37-34.  Hampden-Sydney committed a season-high 22 turnovers, while the Marlins finished the game with 16. 

Hampden-Sydney returns to the hardwood Saturday, December 4, as the Tigers take their first road trip of the season with a trip to Emory, VA, to take on ODAC-rival Emory and Henry at 2 pm.  The game will be broadcast live on FM 95.7 WFLO and on the internet at www.hsc.edu/athletics.