HAMPDEN-SYDNEY, VA (January 30, 2008)'Hampden-Sydney College fell to the Virginia Wesleyan Marlins, 81-62, on Wednesday evening at S. Douglas Fleet Gymnasium in ODAC basketball action. After trailing by as many as 21 points, the Tigers were able to cut the Marlins' lead to ten points, 57-47, with 11:26 left to play, but the Marlins went on to earn the 81-62 victory. Hampden-Sydney was led by senior forward Troy Kaase (Roanoke, VA/Cave Spring) as he scored 20 points and grabbed five rebounds. With the loss, the Tigers fall to 9-8 on the season and 3-7 in the Old Dominion Athletic Conference, while Virginia Wesleyan improves to 14-3 overall and 8-2 in the ODAC.

For the first three minutes of the first half, Hampden-Sydney and Virginia Wesleyan traded baskets, but the Marlins went on a 21-6 run over an eight minute span to take a 28-12 lead with 9:35 left until halftime. Troy Kaase and sophomore Karlis Trops (Riga, Latvia/Charlotte Latin) helped the Tigers cut into the Marlins' lead, but Virginia Wesleyan pushed their lead to 21 points, 41-20, with 4:08 left to play in the first half. Hampden-Sydney bounced back, closing the first half on a 9-2 run to cut the Marlins' lead at halftime to 14 points, 43-29.

The two teams went back-and-forth for the first seven minutes of the second half as the Tigers got to within 12 points, 55-43, on a three-pointer by Matt Partsch (Roanoke, VA/Hidden Valley). The Tigers would continue to cut into the Marlin lead, getting within ten points, 57-47, before the Marlins went on an 11-3 run to push the lead to 18 points, 68-50. The Marlins would convert on their free throws down the stretch to take the 81-62 victory.

Hampden-Sydney was led by Troy Kaase with 20 points and five rebounds, while Karlis Trops finished with a career-high 18 points and team-high six rebounds. Sophomore Turner King (Roanoke, VA/Roanoke Catholic) was the only other Tiger to score in double-figures as he finished with ten points. Virginia Wesleyan had five players score in double-figures, led by Tonton Balenga who scored 18 points, while Norman Hassell and Tyler Fantin added 16 and 15 points respectively.

The Tigers shot 50.0 (23-of-46) percent from the field, including 15.4 (2-of-13) percent from behind-the-arc, and 77.8 (14-of-18) percent from the charity stripe. The Marlins finished at 56.0 percent from the field, and 38.9 percent from behind-the-arc, while making 72.0 percent of their free throws. The Marlins out-rebounded the Tigers, 33-20.

The Tigers return to action on Saturday, February 2, as the Tigers will welcome Bridgewater College to S. Douglas Fleet Gymnasium. Tip-off is set for 2:00 pm. Come out and support the Tigers! Fans can also catch all the exciting hardwood action on WFLO 95.7 FM orwww.hsc.edu.