Free Throws Come at Premium as Marlins Escape Lynchburg with 72-65 Victory

For immediate release – 12/4/12 -- #190
Free Throws Come at Premium as Marlins Escape Lynchburg with 72-65 Victory

LYNCHBURG, VA--Tuesday night's men's basketball game was decided based on the play in the final minutes of each half as #1 Virginia Wesleyan College escaped Lynchburg College's Turner Gymnasium with a 72-65 victory in Old Dominion Athletic Conference (ODAC) action.

Virginia Wesleyan was trailing the Hornets for most of the first half, before mounting an 11-2 run to take a 44-39 lead into the break. Lynchburg kept the game close thanks to the impressive play of freshman Alex Graves, seeing additional minutes because of an undisclosed injury suffered by senior Austin Chillemi midway through the first period. The team's leading rebounder and second-leading scorer, Chillemi had four points and three rebounds before the injury.

The game went back and forth early in the second half, with the Marlins taking a 58-50 advantage on two free throws from DJ Woodmore with 11:21 remaining.

Lynchburg responded with layups by Graves and fellow freshman Austin Arnold. A jumper by senior Michael Wims, followed by another pull up from Arnold tied the game at 58. A jumper by Woodmore and another layup by Graves tied the game for the fifth time at 60 apiece.

Following a layup by Marlin Chris Astorga, Gary Boone II went to the free throw line for two, making the second. That trip to the line started a stretch of 3-of-8 free throws for the Hornets. Junior Andrew Simmons' basket as time expired was the first field goal for the Hornets since Graves' layup at 6:25 to create the 60-60 tie.

Woodmore led the Marlins (6-0/2-0 ODAC) with 22 points. Chris Teasley had 13 while Tre' Ford and Astorga had 10 each.

Graves led Lynchburg with a set of career highs, collect 14 points and 13 rebounds for his first collegiate double-double. Arnold added 10 points. Junior Manny Hernandez had nine points while contributing seven boards. The Hornets enjoyed a healthy 52-37 advantage on the boards.

Lynchburg (5-2/0-2 ODAC) travels to the Manhattanville College Tournament this weekend. The first game for the Hornets will be against Gordon College on Friday at 6 p.m.