Jan. 22, 2011
NORFOLK, Va. - Old Dominion took a one-point lead with seven minutes to play but VCU scored the games final seven points to pull out a 59-50 win in front of a sold out crowd at the Ted Constant Center Saturday evening. It was ODU's fourth sellout of the year and fifth crowd of over 8,000 on the year. It was only ODU's second homeloss in its last 32 games in the Constant Center.
Old Dominion (14-5/5-3) took a 46-45 lead courtest of back-to-back layups by Chris Cooper. After a Rams timeout, VCU scored five-straight to take a 50-46 lead.
The Monarchs pulled to within two with a layup by Ben Finney, but ODU missed its final six shots of the game.
The Rams jumped out to a 9-2 lead to start the game, but the Monarchs quickly cut into the lead, roaring back to tie the game at 18 with a three-pointer by Finney with 7:20 left in the half. The Monarchs tied the game again at 22 with 3:07 left on a layup by Trian Iliadis, but VCU (15-5/7-1) fought back to take a 31-27 lead into halftime.
Old Dominion came out fast in the second half, taking its second lead of the game (ODU led 2-0) at the 16 minute mark when Darius James hit a three-pointer. ODU build its lead to four on a dunk by Cooper, but was never able to build a bigger lead. VCU re-took the lead at 43-42 on a three-pointer by Jamie Skeen with 11:35 remaining.
A Chris Cooper basket with 6:50 left put ODU up 46-45 which was the Monarchs lastlead of the game. Ed Nixon hit a basket to give the Rams a 47-46 lead with 5:46 left, then Bradford Burgess nailed a three-pointer for a 50-46 VCU lead with 5:12 left.
VCU was led by Bradford Burgess with fifteen points with Jamie Skeen grabbing a double-double with 14 points and 10 rebounds, while Ed Nixon chipped in 13. The Ramscommited only seven turnovers on the night while the Monarchs had 14. Jamie Skeen and Joey Rodriguez each dished out five assists.
Darius James and Ben Finney led ODU with nine points each, while Chris Cooper, KentBazemore and Trian Iliadis had eight points each. James led ODU the Monarchs with six assists. ODU shot .393 (20-51) from the field, while VCU shot .407 (22-54).Cooper led ODU with nine rebounds, followed by Hassell with seven. The Monarchs alsoswatted six shots led by Cooper and Keyon Carter with two each.
The Monarchs who are averaging 7,630 through 10 home games host UNC WilmingtonMonday night at 7 p.m.