Oct. 12, 2003
LONDON, ENGLAND-- The Old Dominion University basketball Monarchs startedtheir tour of London with two victories Sunday, led by senior John Waller(Richmond, VA.), and freshman Valdas Vasylius (Klaipeda , Lithuania), bothof whom scored in double figures in the two games. ODU defeated a U.S.Air Force squad stationed in Lakenheath, 97-51, then beat London United, 91-65.
In game one against Lakenheath Eagles, the Monarchs put five in doublefigures. John Waller led with 18 points, freshman forward Arnaud Dahi(Ivory Coast) scored 17 with ten rebounds, pre-season CAA All-Conferenceforward (second team) Alex Loughton (Perth, Australia) scored 14 points and hauledin ten rebounds, Isiah hunter(Charlotte, NC) scored 14 points, andVasylius chipped in 13 points and eight rebounds.
Troy Nance (Va. Beach, VA.) dished out eight assists, followed by freshmanDrew Williams (Burlington, NC.)with six assists. The Monarchs outreboundedLakenheath, 62-55. Janko Mrksic (Ontario, Canada) led ODU with 12 rebounds.
In game two, Vasylius, the 2003 Tidewater Conference Player of the Yearat Norfolk Collegiate scored 27 points and hauled in seven rebounds.Vasylius was 9-12 from the floor. John Waller added 17 points, and ninerebounds, while freshman guard Abdi Lidonde(Sutton, MA.) scored 14 points.Alex Loughton led ODU with 13 rebounds, and freshman Drew Williamsondished out seven assits. ODU held London United to .261 shooting from thefloor (17-65)., and outrebounded them, 57-36.
"The games were much more competitive than the final score," said Old Dominion men's basketball head coach Blaine Taylor. "They were quite physical, and both teams forced us to do alot of different things, both offensively and defensively. We got outstanding contributionsfrom many different people in scoring, rebounding, and just picking usup when we needed a lift. That was very important in playing two gamesback-to-back in the same day. I way very pleased with our rebounding andour defense, and thought we played very unselfishly."
The Monarchs will play two more games Monday, one in the early afternoon,andanother Monday night to complete the tour.
ODU CAGE NOTES:
The Monarchs toured the city of London Saturday. Noted Isaiah Hunter, "Thefavorite part of the tour was the London Tower Bridge, and watchingIllusionist David Blaine hang over the Thames in a glass cage."
The first game was played in St. Alban's, England about 45 minutes fromLondon. The team visited the St. Alban's Abbey and Cathedral before thegame. The church is over 1700 years old.
The games were played in four- ten minute quarters.
Alumni Jan Reeves and her family were staying at the same hotel. She isa 1997 masters degree graduate and lives in Germany.
SCORING SUMMARY (points)
GAME ONE:ODU: Hunter 14, Williamson 5, Waller 18, Lidonde 6, Drewry 0,Nance 3, Dahi 17, Loughton 14, Vasylius 13, Mrksic 5
LAKENHEATH: Flan 0, Booker 7, Ervin 0, Davis 15, Blackman 0,Jackson 0, Stewart 14, Collins 4, Philpott, 2, Coriano 0
GAME TWO:ODU: Hunter 6, Williamson, 7, Waller 17, Lidonde 14, Drewry 4, Nance 3, Dahi3, Loughton 8, Vasylius 27, Mrksic 2, ODU totals 26-27-20-18=91
LONDON UNITED: Smith 0, Veer 10, Ogunjimi 11, Athus 6, Cadogan 14,Obigee 0, Deppich 8, Seaman 12, Munimmi 4, totals: 16-21-17-11=65