SALEM, VA (March 1, 2008) -- Virginia Wesleyan College rebounded from a rough shooting first half with a15-for-25 showing from the field in the second frame to defeat Hampden-Sydney College, 68-55, and earn a spot in the ODAC Men's Basketball Tournament title game. The Marlins, now 22-5, match up with top-seeded Guilford College in a showdown of the first two seeds on Sunday. The Tigers bow out with a 15-12 overall record.

VWC shot 28.1-percent in the first half and once trailed by 14 points less than five minutes away from halftime. H-SC's Turner King (Roanoke, VA/Roanoke Catholic) poured in 11 points to pace the Tigers' run to the largest lead of the game. The Marlins pulled to within seven at 29-22 going into the intermission.

Both teams traded baskets through the first eight minutes of the second stanza, but a three-pointer by TonTon Balenga brought VWC within one at 44-43 with 11:20 to play. The Marlins took their first lead at the 8:31 mark following a pair of free throws by Norman Hassell.

VWC's lead remained in the lower single digits before Tyler Fantin dropped one in from long-distance to extend the Marlins' advantage to 63-55 with 2:10 to play. Virginia Wesleyan, who shot 14-of-16 from the stripe in the second half, made five free throws down the stretch to secure the victory.

Fantin finished with a team-high 19 points to go with five rebounds. Stephen Fields added 15 points on 7-of-11 shooting. Balenga wrapped his night with 14 markers, and Hassell added 11 points to the Marlins' efforts.

King recorded a game-high 22 points on 8-of-14 shooting. Senior forward Troy Kaase (Roanoke,VA/Cave Spring), Friday night's hero following his winning tip-in, added 13 points and six rebounds, while Karlis Trops (Riga, Latvia/Charlotte Latin) pulled down seven rebounds.

Virginia Wesleyan and Guilford meet on Sunday, March 2, to decide who receives the ODAC's automatic bid into the NCAA tournament. Game time is set for 3:30 p.m. in the Salem Civic Center. Guilford will be going for its first men's basketball conference crown. The Marlins look to pick up their fourth title and third in the last four years.