March 5, 2011
RICHMOND, Va. - Frank Hassell scored 24 points and sparked a 15-4 second-half run with a three-point play Saturday night, leading second-seeded Old Dominion to a 59-50 victory against Delaware in the quarterfinals of the Colonial Athletic Association tournament.
The Monarchs will play Hofstra (21-10) Sunday at 2:30 in the semi-finals. George Masonand VCU will meet in the 12 noon game.
Kent Bazemore added 11 points in the seventh straight win and 11th in their last 12 games for the Monarchs (25-6).
Old Dominion's run came after the Blue Hens pulled even at 35 with 10:15 remaining.
Delaware (14-17), which handed Old Dominion one of its four losses in 18 regular season CAA games, got 24 points from Jawan Carter and 12 from Devon Saddler.
Saddler's 3-pointer tied it at 35, but Hassell scored, was fouled and made the free throw, and Trian Iliadis followed with a basket for ODU. After a floater by Carter, Old Dominion's Keyon Carter hit back-to-back baskets and Bazemore added two free throws.
Delaware never got closer than six thereafter.
Hassell hauled down another 10 rebounds for his 15th double-double of the year andseventh in a row. The 6-9 senior All-CAA selection was nine-for 13 from the field.He is averaging 14.5 points and 9.8 rebounds per game.
Ben Finney scored nine points, dished out a game high four assists and had twosteals on the evening. Both Finney and Bazemore were four-for eight from the field.
ODU, who leads the nation in rebound margin, held a 36-25 edge over the FightinBlue Hens. ODU has a plus 12.2 rebound margin overall. Besides Hassell's 10 boards,Chris Cooper hauled down seven and Kent Bazemore added five recoveries.
ODU and Hofstra met once this year with the Monarchs winning in Hempstead, 75-64back on Jan. 15th.
This is the third straight year, ODU has won atleast 25 games and now makes itssenior class of Ben Finney, Darius James, Keyon Carter and Frank Hassell the winning senior class in school history with 95 career wins. In 10 years, Taylor'sMonarchs have won 24 or more games six times.