';//-->
NORFOLK, VA-- ODU red-shirt freshman Richard Ross scored a career high 19 points, including 13 in the second half to lead the Monarchs to a 68-66 victory over CoastalCarolina in the first round of the fourth annual Collegeinsider.com Post Season Tournament.
Joining Ross in double figures were Kent Bazemore with 10 points and sophomore Donte Hill with 14.
ODU led by one at the half, 37-36, but the Chanticleers took a 38-37 lead on a basket by Sam McLaurin and held on until 13:31 left in the game when Richard Rossfollowup dunk off a missed shot put ODU up, 47-46.
ODU led by as many as nine, 62-53 after a Breon Key layup with 6:39 left, but Coastal rallied with a 13-3 run to lead, 66-65 on a layup by Sam McLaurin with2:07 left in the game.
After a miss by Donte Hill, Richard Ross followed it in with 1:27 left for a 67-66ODU lead. Chris Cooper then knocked away a Coastal pass and Ross was fouled onthe break. He hit one of two free throws to put ODU up 68-66 with 32 seconds left.
Coastal had one more chance and Anthony Raffa missed the three-point attempt astime ran out.
ODU, who ranks 24th nationally in rebound margin outrebounded Coastal, 43-33 as Chris Cooper hauled down another 10 boards. Breon Key grabbed a career high nine rebounds with Kent Bazemore adding six and Ross with five.
Coastal Carolina was led by Sam McLaurin with 20 points, followed by Anthony Raffa with 17. The Chanticleers shot .455 from the floor, while ODU shot .394.
Kierre Greenwood led all with eight assists on the night, while ODU senior MarquelDe Lancey handed out six.
The Monarchs should know there next round opponent once the rest of the first roundgames are completed.