Top Seeded Marlins Roll In Quarterfinals
WESTMINSTER, Md. - - Virginia Wesleyan University used its defense and took control early as the top seeded Marlins rolled to a 73-51 victory over No. 8 seed Franciscan University in the quarterfinals of the Eastern College Athletic Conference men’s basketball tournament at McDaniel College Saturday.
The Barons made just five first half field goals as the Marlins held Franciscan to 27.8 percent shooting over the opening 20 minutes. The defensive work was amplified by 17 forced turnovers by the Marlins who raced out to a 34-20 lead at intermission.
Omari Deveaux paced a trio of Marlins in double-figure scoring with a game-high 20 points. Deveaux added a game-best eight steals while teammates Amari Moorer and Khai Seargeant chipped in 14 and 13 points each respectively.
Franciscan never recovered from the slow start as the Barons finished the game with 25 turnovers in a game they trailed by 29 points at one point in the second half.
Sawyer Bulter netted a team-high 18 points in the loss but no other Franciscan player reached double figures.
Virginia Wesleyan will advance to Sunday’s semifinal at 2 p.m. to take on the winner of the Pitt-Greensburg and McDaniel contest.