';//-->
NORFOLK, VA-- Kent Bazemore (Kelford, NC.) scored 17 points, and Chris Cooper (Dumfries, VA.) added nine rebounds, but the Panthers of Northern Iowa defeated the Monarchs, 63-48 Saturday afternoon atthe Ted Constant Convocation Center.
UNI from the Missouri Valley was led by Jake Koch with 18 points and and four assists along with Anthony James with 13 points and five assists.
UNI shot .490 (24-49) from the floor, while ODU finished at .273 (12-44) from thefloor.
ODU won the battle of the boards at 33-31. Besides Cooper's nine, freshman JasonPimentel(Ocala, Fl.) hauled down six. Deon Mitchell led UNI with six boards, followed by Chip Rank with five.
Bazemore, The pre-season CAA Player of the Year and Defensive All-American, who is returning from a foot injury late this summer was 10-for-13 fromthe free throw line, had three steals and four rebounds. He played 30 minutes tonight.
Pimentel scored eight points and had three steals as well, while senior Trian Iliadis (Perth, Western Australia) scored eight points with two assists and a career high two blocked shots.
The Monarchs return to action Monday night at home against the Blackbirds of Long Island University, then host Howard on Wednesday night.