VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. – The Salisbury University men's basketball team saw its 2024-25 season conclude on Saturday evening, falling to top-seeded Virginia Wesleyan in the 2025 Eastern College Athletic Conference (ECAC) title game in Virginia Beach, Va.
The Marlins (22-7) claimed the first five minutes of the battle with a 15-4 run before
Jordan Oates netted six straight points, cutting the margin to five at the 13:35 mark. The teams traded six-point swings from there, with VWU reclaiming the 11-point advantage before the Sea Gulls (18-11) reduced the Marlin margin to 21-16 with just under nine minutes left in the frame.
VWU outpaced SU by a 9-4 margin over the next five minutes, holding the Sea Gulls without a make from the floor. A
Buddah Spencer finish at the rim and
Aidan Camper connection from range helped SU cut the lead to six at the break, 33-26.
The Marlins used an 11-6 edge to open the second half to gain some distance, going up 44-32 with 16 minutes to play and maintaining the double-digit lead through the duration of the second half to secure the ECAC title.
GAME NOTES
- Jordan Oates posted a team-high 17 points, including three makes from beyond the arc, 10 rebounds and four blocks. After logging his 21st double-double of the season and the 54th of his career, Oates holds fifth on the SU all-time scoring list with 1,528 career points and fourth on the all-time rebounding list with 1,216 career boards.
- Oates stands as one of just three Sea Gulls in program history to record 1,500 points and 1,200 rebounds for their careers (Andre Foreman '92, Howard Shockley '76).
- Reed Rebstock posted 10 points and five rebounds in the title bout.
- Aidan Camper scored nine points on 3-of-3 shooting from the floor.
- The Sea Gulls shot 40 percent (16-of-40) from the floor, 46.2 percent (6-of-13) from three-point range and 50 percent (12-of-24) from the free throw line.
The Sea Gulls finish the 2024-25 campaign with an 18-11 overall record, marking the highest single season win total under head coach
Maurice "Mo" Williams. The team also notched a pair of victories in the ECAC tournament, the first two postseason wins beyond the conference tournament for Williams and the Sea Gulls.
Salisbury University is a proud member of NCAA Division III with primary membership in the Coast-to-Coast Athletic Conference, along with affiliate membership in the New Jersey Athletic Conference (football, men's & women's swimming) and the Coastal Lacrosse Conference (men's lacrosse). With over 500 student-athletes in 23 varsity sports, SU is recognized as one of the nation's most competitive intercollegiate athletics programs regardless of division, featuring dedicated coaches and staff that foster excellence on and off the field. The Sea Gulls have won a combined 23 team national championships, 24 individual national championships, and 202 conference championships, and have produced 50 Academic All-Americans.
To Make Tomorrow Yours at Salisbury University, and learn more about Sea Gull Athletics' tradition of excellence, visit www.SUSeaGulls.com or follow on social media @SUSeaGulls.
