BRIDGEWATER, Va. (BC Athletics) – Bridgewater College men’s basketball battled against nationally recognized Va. Wesleyan in a 79-60 setback Wednesday night at home.

The Bridgewater Eagles drop to 7-15 overall and 3-10 in conference play, and the Virginia Wesleyan Marlins have moved to 16-6 overall and 11-2 in the ODAC.

How It Happened
The Eagles followed the game plan to start out the action in the first half with solid defense and good looks up closely. BC bolted to an opening 4-0 ledger, but the Marlins quickly turned their early miscues around. VWU got scoring opportunities going at the halfway mark, and from there, plunged ahead. BC challenged the Marlins for the lead with several changes at the 10-minute mark. Lincoln Jackson got inside the paint and laid in an easy bucket to maintain the lead; however, the Marlins hung in.

The Marlins pushed the lead to a four-point game with aggressive takes to the rim, and the Eagles found themselves in early foul trouble. Jahmir Brown helped keep it close to dwindle the advantage from the Marlins; nailing back–to-back field goals. The Marlins forced inside and added to their momentum with an eight-point lead at the end of the half at 37-29.

In the second half, VWU pressed the gas even more. Fastbreak points and second chance makes were working in its favor. The Marlins boosted to a 10-point clip in six minutes of action. BC struggled to close out offensive plays successfully, and the Marlins countered the setbacks. The Marlins jumped out to the largest lead of the night with a 23-point lead and did not look back.
VWU handled the offensive play style to the end, closing it out on a 19-point advantage at 79-60.

Game Notes
• Second chance opportunities were the difference maker in the contest as the Marlins put up 20 second chance points to seven points for BC.
• The Marlins doubled the Eagles in fastbreak points as VWU posted 12 points quick in transition while BC scored five.
• Jahmir Brown tied the game high with 17 points including six boards and one steal.

Up Next
The Eagles are back in action on Saturday, Feb. 14 on the road to face another ODAC foe, Randolph, beginning at 2 p.m.

— BC Athletics —