Greensboro, NC (1/9/99) -- Senior center Jason Nickerson (Virginia Beach, VA/Kempsville) scored 23 points and grabbed 14 rebounds, both game highs, to lead visiting Virginia Wesleyan to a 91-70 Old Dominion Athletic Conference (ODAC) basketball win over Guilford Saturday afternoon. The Marlins (8-2, 5-1 ODAC) overcame a 36-35 halftime deficit and limited the Quakers (2-9, 1-5 ODAC) to 34 percent field-goal shooting in the second half.

Nickerson scored eight points during a 14-4 Virginia Wesleyan run over the first five minutes of the second period which gave the Marlins a 49-40 lead with 15:01 to play. Guilford pulled to within 51-46 on a Jaron Randall (Trenton, NJ/Princeton Day School) basket with 13:22 left, but the Marlins answered with a 15-0 run which featured nine of ODAC scoring leader Tim Petrillo's (Woodbury, NJ/West Deptford) 15 points.

Virginia Wesleyan held a commanding 42-28 rebounding advantage and received double-doubles from Nickerson and rookie forward McKinley Ford (Virginia Beach, VA/Kempsville) (18 points, 10 rebounds). Marlins freshman James Wallace (Bridgewater, NJ/Bridgewater-Raritan) added 12 points on four three-point baskets.

Randall led the Quakers with a career-high 21 points, 12 of which came in the first half. Sophomore guard David Zelickson (Charlotte, NC/Charlotte Country Day) added a season-best 18 points thanks to a career-high four three-pointers. Classmate Jeff Heybruck (Charlotte, NC/Charlotte Catholic) added 12 points and six boards in 22 foul-plagued minutes.

Guilford played with just seven players due to an assortment of injuries. Sophomore forward Jon Evans (Mooresville, NC/Mooresville), the Quakers' top scorer and rebounder, missed the game due to a National Guard commitment.

The Quakers host ODAC rival Randolph-Macon Tuesday night at 7:30, while the Marlins host Averett in a nonconference tilt Tuesday night at 7:00 pm.