Jan. 3, 2011
TOWSON, MD-- The ODU Monarchs held Towson,to 19 second half points in a 51-47 Colonial Athletic Association victory Monday night. The Monarchs improve to 10-3overall and 1-1 in the CAA. Towson ranked second in the in scoring at 74.6 pointsper game.
The victory gives Blaine Taylor win No. 198 tying him with Bud Metheny (1948-65)for the most career wins at ODU.
Frank Hassell led ODU with 14 points and nine rebounds, while Ben Finney addedeight points with 10 rebounds.
ODU jumped out to a 26-12 lead with 6:57 left in the first half before the Tigersrallied and tied the game at 28-28 on a halfcourt shot by Josh Brown as time expiredat halftime. The Tigers were shooting .500 (11-22) from the field.
In the second half, after five ties, ODU grabbed the lead, 42-40 on a layup byFrank Hassell with 6:15 left. After a TU turnover, Hassell scored again to putthe Monarchs up, 44-40. Isaiah Philmore hit two free throws for the Tigers, butKent Bazemore came back with a score to make it 46-42.
After Philmore hit one of two free throws, Darius James then hits a trey to putODU up 49-43 with 3:20 left. Towson would make one more rally on two free throwsfrom Braxton Dupree and a layup by Philmore to cut the score, to 49-47 with12 seconds remaining. Monarch senior James put the game out of reach with two free throws.
James, who was saddled with three early fouls finished with seven points whileMarquel De Lancey added seven points and Keyon Carter scored six.
Ben Finney not only scored eight points with 10 boards, but also added three assists, three steals and a blocked shot.
ODU shot .377 (20-53) from the floor, while the Tigers shot .378 (17-45), but.261 (6-23) in the second half. ODU regained its dominance on the boards, outrebounding the Tigers, 41-23.
Towson was led in scoring by Philmore with 16, followed by Dupree with 10 points and eight rebounds.
ODU returns to action Wednesday night when they host Northeastern at 7 p.m. in theConstant Center.