Marlins land Div. III title

SALEM, Va. – TonTon Balenga’s 3-pointer with 2 seconds left lifted Virginia Wesleyan to the NCAA Division III national basketball championship Saturday and its 28th consecutive victory, 59-56 over Wittenberg.

Balenga led the Marlins (30-3) with 22 points, including a steal and a layup with 1:57 left that enabled Virginia Wesleyan to tie the score for the first time at 52-all. Brandon Adair added 21 points.

The Tigers (30-4), in their fourth title game, were led by Dane Borchers with 15 points, Daniel Russ with 14 and Kenny Brady with 13.

The Tigers took the lead back at 54-52 on two foul shots by Borchers with 1:30 remaining, but the Marlins tied it again on Adair’s layup.

Borchers then hit a layup, and Adair hit two foul shots to tie it at 56 with 49 seconds left.