Box Score VIRGINIA BEACH, Virginia - The Virginia Wesleyan University men's basketball team defeated the Knights of Southern Virginia University 70-54 in a mid-week none conference game at TowneBank Arena on Tuesday night. VWU moves to 3-3 on the season while SVU falls to 0-1 in their season opener.

INSIDE THE SCORE
The game began with the Marlins getting on the board first off a jumper from Tyree Golston nearly two minutes into the contest. The Knights responded with a three-pointer to take a short lived 3-2 lead before VWU scored four points to take a 6-3 lead. Southern Virginia went on a 5-2 run to knot the score at eight all as the clock hit the 13:30 mark. Over the next five minutes the score tied four more times with a jumper by Tim Fisher putting the score at 16 all with 8:41 remaining in the half. A pair of free throws by Fisher gave VWU a two-point lead, 18-16, but SVU responded scoring five points to go up by three, 21-18. The Marlins went on a 10-2 run taking a five-point, 28-23 lead with just under three minutes before the horn. The Knights closed out the final minutes of the opening half scoring six points to close the Marlin lead to one point at the break, 30-29.

The beginning of the second half was much like the start of the game with the teams trading baskets and staying within a couple points of each other as the Marlins led by two, 35-33, about two minutes into the resumption of the contest. VWU scored six consecutive points to take a 41-33 lead as the clock ticked down to the 16-minute mark. A three-pointer by Connor Marchant put the Knights within five points, 41-36, but that was the closest SVU was for the remainder of the game. The Marlins opened up a double-digit lead three minutes later after an 8-2 run capped by a layup by Fisher. Virginia Wesleyan never relinquished their double-digit lead the remainder of the game, which grew too as many as 19-points, 64-45 (4:50). VWU ended the contest with a 16-point advantage as the score sat 70-54 at the final buzzer.

VIRGINIA WESLEYAN LEADERS
The Marlins were led by Tim Fisher with 20 points and eight rebounds. He was followed by Lamont Steward with 17 points and two blocks. Tyree Golston rounded out the double-digit scorers with 16 points and seven rebounds in the game.

SOUTHERN VIRGINIA LEADERS
The Knights were led by Isaiah Marchant with 11 points. He was closely followed by Connor Marchant and Kae'Shaun Braxton with 10 points each. Braxton, Brycen Harris, and Jesse Barker each brought down seven rebounds a piece. 

KEY MOMENT
The key moment of the game came between the 16-minute and 12-minute mark when the Marlins were able to open up a double-digit, 11-point lead over the Knights. SVU was never ablle to catch back up as the Marlins won by 16, 70-54. 

UP NEXT
The Virginia Wesleyan Marlins will return to action on Friday, February 19 when they host the Tigers of Hampden-Sydney College in the newly renovated TowneBank Arena in Virginia Beach, VA. Tip-off is scheduled for 5 pm and will be broadcasted for fans to watch. A note of importance, no fans are permitted to attend any home game this season per a conference wide policy passed by the Old Dominion Athletic Conference Presidents Council.