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NORFOLK, VA-- ODU (2-1) seniors Chris Cooper (Dumfries, VA) and Marquel De Lancey (Alexandria, VA.) each scored 11 points in the second half to lead the Monarchs toa 53-43 victory over the Howard Bison (1-2) Wednesday night at the Ted Constant Convocation Center.
Howard led 20-15 at halftime as ODU shot .261 (6-23) from the floor and Howardwas shooting .333 (8-24).
In the second half Howard took a seven point lead at 22-15 on a Mike Phillips layup with 18:49 remaining, then the Monarchs turned it on for 10-0 run led with four points from De Lancey and a crucial block by Kent Bazemore (Kelford, NC.) followed by a go ahead basket from Trian Iliadis (Perth, W. Australia) to put ODU up at 23-22 with 15:22 left in the game. Howard would never lead again.
The Monarchs eventually led by as many as 15 (48-33) with 4:28 left. Besides Cooper scoring 11 of his 13 points in the second half, the 6-9 senior hauled in seven of his game high 10 rebounds in the second half along with two assists, two blocks and two steals.
De Lancey was a perfect five-for-five in the second half. Red-shirt freshman Dimitri Batten (Hampton, VA.) scored eight of his nine points in the second half.
ODU hit .667 (14-21) from the floor in the second half and finished with .455 (20-44) for the game.
Senior guard Trian Iliadis scored seven points with three assists but also helped out on the glass with a career high nine rebounds.
Howard was led by Mike Phillips and Simuel Frazier with 10 points each, while Phillips and Alphonso Leary hauled down seven boards each.
The Monarchs, who have played three games in five days hit the road for the Basketball Hall of Fame Tournament at the Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, CT. this weekend against South Florida at 2 p.m. on ESPN3 on Saturday. ODU will then either play second ranked Kentucky or Penn State on Sunday at either 12 noon or 2 p.m.