Moore Notches Career-Best 30 Points in Season-Ending Loss
FREDERICKSBURG, Va. --- History continues to repeat itself for the Virginia Wesleyan College men's basketball team.
The Marlins advanced to the NCAA Division III Sweet 16 for the fourth straight year and had its roll toward a berth in the final four halted by the host team. In 2011 it was a 79-73 loss at Williams College, in 2012 a 76-62 setback at the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater, and in 2013 an 84-75 loss at Williams.
This time around, it was the University of Mary Washington that came up with the big stop, holding off the Marlins for 74-70 win Friday on the Eagles' court. While VWC's season ends at 24-7, UMW, now 25-5, will advance to Saturday's play against Williams at 7 p.m. in Fredericksburg. That winner advances to the final four in Salem next week.
The loss ended the outstanding four-year intercollegiate careers of VWC seniors D.J. Woodmore (Virginia Beach/Landstown), Aaron Clark (Virginia Beach/Tallwood), Colby Heard (Virginia Beach/Tallwood), and Trent Batson (Lewes, Del./Cape Henlopen). The quartet helped guide VWC to a brilliant 99-21 four-year record, highlighted by two Old Dominion Athletic Conference championships and four straight NCAA appearances.
But, it also beaconed continued success, as rookie Khory Moore (Arlington/Wakefield) turned in a stellar effort. He scored a game-high, and season-high 30 points, connecting on 9-of-17 shots, including 6-of-11 from three-point range. His point total was just two shy of the VWC rookie record set by Joe Darby against Salisbury State University in 1986. The six triples tied his career high, which is the third highest total ever by a Marlin freshman.
While the Marlins might have had the most outstanding individual performance in the game, the host Eagles had the scoring balance. Heard tallied 14 points to give VWC another player in double figure scoring, but Mary Washington finished with three, led by Bradley Riester (Richmond/Monacan) with 23. Taylor Johnson (Ashburn/Broad Run) followed with 15 points and Dajon Daniel (Fredericksburg/Mountain View) tallied 13.
Riester connected on four triples to lead the Eagles in a battle between two of the nation's best long-range shooting teams. UMW entered the game ranked No. 4 in total triples made, while VWC ranked No. 5. Mary Washington won that battle Friday, hitting 10 long-range shots, while Virginia Wesleyan connected on seven.
Four of UMW's first six baskets of the game were triples, helping the Eagles to establish an early lead. Virginia Wesleyan took it all in stride and eventually took an 18-16 lead, only to see the host team produce a 7-0 run to create some space. The Eagles pushed out to a 40-25 lead with 3:28 remaining in the first half, but VWC came back to close the gap to 42-31 by halftime.
Junior Cameron Owens (Centreville/Centreville) and Moore combined to score the first 10 points of the second half for Virginia Wesleyan, and junior Greg Montgomer (Virginia Beach/Princess Anne) and Heard added to the scoring as the Marlins outscored UMW 14-3 in the first four minutes to tie the game at 45-all.
The impressive comeback set the stage for an intense battle through the final 16 minutes, including four ties and eight lead changes. Clark and Woodmore both hit two pressure-packed free throws each in the final two minutes to tie the game at 66 and 68, respectively, but it was UMW that took the lead for good with just 1:14 remaining. Dom Mora (Burke/Lake Braddock) scored the go-ahead basket,
VWC was unable to get a shot to fall in the remaining time as UMW held on for the final 74-70 decision.
Virginia Wesleyan outrebounded the Eagles 41-34, led by Heard with 10, marking his fifth double-double of the season. Woodmore and Clark shared game-high assist totals with four each.
--- This release is courtesy of the Virginia Wesleyan College sports information department. ---
www.vwc.athletics.com