Nov. 24, 2007
LAS VEGAS, NV--The ODU Monarchs (3-2) lost the top ranked and unbeated North Carolina (4-0), 99-82 in the semi-final round of the Findlay Toyota Las Vegas Invitational at the Orleans Arena late Friday night. Senior Brandon Johnson led ODU with 16 points, 14 of those in the first half. Tyler Hansbrough led the Tar Heels with27 points. UNC shot a blistering .709 (39-55) for the game. ODU will meet sixth ranked Louisville, who lost to BYU 78-76, Saturday at 7:30 ET followed by the UNC-BYU title game.
In the first half, the lead changed hands seven times, with the Monarchs leading 39-38with over a minute left, but UNC scored the final five points of the half includingDanny Green S three-pointer with 1.3 seconds left to give the Heels a 43-39 halftime lead.
In the second half, UNC shot .733 (22-30) from the field and 714 (5-7) frombeyond the arc. ODU wasn't too bad either hitting .615 (12-26) in the second half, butThe Monarchs committed 18 turnovers in the game. North Carolina overall shot .709(39-55) from the floor and ODU was .554 (31-56), its best shooting night of the season.
Five Monarchs were in double figures. Joining Johnson was Freshman Ben Finney with aCareer high 12 points, senior Abdi Lidonde with 11, senior Brian Henderson with ten and junior Jonathan Adams with ten. Red-shirt Freshman Frank Hassell led all rebounders with seven as the Monarchs outrebounded UNC, 30-24.
Ty Lawson added 23 points for the Tar Heels, followed by Wayne Ellington with 17.Hansbrough led with six boards.