March 26, 2009
NORFOLK, VA-- Gerald Lee scored 18 points, FrankHassell 16 points with 13 rebounds, Kent Bazemore scored 10,and Marsharee Neely added 14 as ODU (24-10) defeated CAA rival James Madison (21-15), 81-43 in the semifinals ofthe Collegeinsider.com Post Season Tournament. ODU advances to the finals on Tuesday at Bradley. Game time is 8 p.m. ET and will be televisedlive on Fox College Sports.
The Monarchs jumped out to a 7-0 after a trey by Neely and two baskets byFrank Hassell. ODU built the lead to 16, 27-11 with 10:09 left in the firsthalf. The Dukes rallied to cut the lead to 10, 27-17 after a basket by Juwann James,but Neely hit a three and the Monarchs were off and running to a 39-21 halftimelead.
The Monarchs biggest lead was 38, 79-41 with 3:51 left in the game.
Frank Hassell got his second straight double-double and third of the season.The13 rebounds ties a career high for him. Bazemore who scored 10 points hauleddown a carer high tying eight boards.
The Monarchs shot .462 (30-65) from the floor, while JMU shot .314 (16-51).ODU dominated the boards, 53-22. Besides Hassell's 13, and Bazemore's eight,Ben Finney hauled down seven and Neely had six. Darius James led with five asisstson the night.
James Madison was led by Devon Moore with 13 points, three assists and two steals.Ben Louis led the Dukes with four rebounds.
ODU and Bradley have met only once before and that was the 1994 NIT second roundwhere the Braves defeated the Monarchs, 79-75.