Feb. 14, 2009
NORFOLK, Va. (AP) -Gerald Lee scored 18 points to lead Old Dominion to a 69-65 victory over Virginia Commonwealth on Saturday in front of a sold out Constant Center of 8424.
The Monarchs (16-9, 9-6 Colonial Athletic Association) scored seven consecutive points in a one-minute span to break a tie and help secure its fifth win in six games.
Lee hit a jumper to give Old Dominion a 59-57 lead with 2:25 remaining in the game. Darius James followed with two free throws and Ben Finney hit a 3-pointer to give the Monarchs a 64-57 lead with 1:25 remaining.
Eric Maynor, who scored 22 points for Virginia Commonwealth (18-8, 11-4), cut the lead to 65-62 with 50 seconds left, but Finney hit two free throws and the Monarchs put the game away from the line.
Finney had 16 points and Frank Hassell added 10 points for Old Dominion.
Bradford Burgess scored 16 and Larry Sanders had 10 points, five blocked shots and 14 rebounds for the Rams.
ODU led by seven at halftime, 35-28 but VCU cameout in the second half on a 14-0run to take a 42-35 lead with 14:56 left in the game. A Ben Finney layup with 13:41left broke the ice for ODU.
ODU shot .403 (25-62) from the floor, while the Rams shot .400 (25-60). ODU outrebounded the Rams, 43-37. Keyon Carter led ODU with seven rebounds, while FrankHassell and Kent Bazemore each added six, and Gerald Lee and Ben Finney had fiveeach. ODU committed only eight turnovers on the day.
ODU returns to action on Wednesday night when they travel to Wilmington, NC totake on the Seahawks of UNC Wilmington.