VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. – Junior Jordan Cooper poured in 30 points in his Keene State College debut, but the Owls men's basketball team dropped a tight battle with 14th-ranked Virginia Wesleyan University on the road in the season opener for both teams on Friday night at the TowneBank Arena.

The Owls (0-1) led 39-38 at halftime and by six one minute into the second half, but the Marlins (1-0) eventually used an 11-0 run to wipe out a 57-51 deficit to go up by five with 12:56 to go.  It was a nine-point game halfway through the half, but KSC clawed back, getting within 78-74 with 5:20 left on two free throws by Wesley Odiase.  Virginia Wesleyan made two huge threes down the stretch, including one by Omari Deveaux 25 seconds after KSC had gotten within four.  Paul Anderson then hit from distance with 2:30 left to make it 84-76 before a free throw on a foul away from the ball made it a nine-point game.  Even still, the Owls would not go away, as Cooper's rebound and layup with 52 seconds to go made it a one-possession game at 85-82.  Mitch Shettles rebounded a miss by Deveaux on the next possession to give KSC a chance to tie.  Wesley Odiase missed a three with nine seconds to go, but Leo Chaikin grabbed an offensive board and was fouled, hitting to free throws to make it a one-point game.  The Owls intentionally fouled Khai Seargeant on the inbound, who made both from the line to make it 87-84, but Cooper missed a three at the buzzer as the Marlins hung on.

Cooper finished 12-of-19 from the floor, made 3-of-6 from three-point range, and all three free throws while grabbing even rebounds in his KSC debut after transferring in from Bridgewater College (Va.), where he was the ODAC Rookie of the Year under Steve Enright two years ago.  Odiase added 22 points (8-16 FG, 6-6 FT) and six rebounds while Shettles (6-11 FG, 2-7 3-PT, 2-2 FT) had 16 points.

KSC controlled the boards 36-25, but allowed Virginia Wesleyan to shoot 54.7 percent in the game including 14-for-24 after halftime.  The Owls were just 5-of-20 (25%) from three and had six assists to 11 turnovers.

"It was not the result we wanted today, but I thought we showed some grit down the stretch and gave ourselves a chance in the final four minutes of the game," said Owls head coach Steve Enright.  "We were largely able to keep them off the glass but struggled on the interior defensively and did not force enough turnovers (Virginia Wesleyan had only seven) to make up for it."

"I thought Jordan and Wesley caused Virginia Wesleyan a lot of problems, credit to those two for keeping us in it with their individual bursts offensively," he added.

KSC's first-ever meeting against VWU is part of the TowneBank Tip-Off Tournament, which also includes Hampden-Sydney College and the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse who had the nightcap.  The Owls will take on No. 17 HSC, who fell 77-75 in overtime, in Saturday's consolation game at 2:00 p.m. before opening their home schedule next Saturday.

"Opening up in a true road game against a top 15 team in the country is a good way to gauge where we are with a lot of rotational guys either in new roles or completely new to our program.  On to Hampden-Sydney," said Enright.

Deveaux led Virginia Wesleyan with 25 points (9-18 FG, 1-6 3-PT, 6-7 FT) and six rebounds while Amari Moorer had 20 points on 8-of-11 shooting.