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Post-Game Press Conference:
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NORFOLK, VA--Six Monarchs scored double figures to lead Old Dominion to a 72-61 victory over the Bears of Morgan State Saturday evening in the second day of the Liberty Tax Classic,presented by Athletes In Action at the ODU Constant Center. Both teams are 1-1.
ODU seniors Nick Wright, DeShawn Painter along with freshman Keenan Palmore each scored 12 points while freshman Aaron Bacote, junior Donte Hill and sophomore Dimitri Batten added 10 points each.
Senior co-captain Donte Hill's three-pointer with 9:07 left put the Monarchs up for good, 48-47 as the Monarchs proceeded to slowly pull away, outscoring Morgan State, 13-4 thanks to baskets from Bacote, Richard Ross, Hill, a free throw by Nick Wright and two free throws by Keenan Palmore, giving ODU a 61-51 lead with 1:39 left.
ODU hit 11-of-14 free throws the last two minutes of the contest. Painter led all rebounders with a game high eight, followed by Palmore with seven. The Monarchs outrebounded MSU, 38-36.
Palmore also dished out four assists and came up with four steals on the night while Dimitri Batten and Donte Hill each had two steals.
In the first half ODU led by as much as eight, 17-9 with 10:10 left, but Morgan State rallied to tie the game at 22-22 with 5:04 left in the half. Justin Black'slayup with 1:50 left game the Bears a 28-27 lead they would take into the halftimelockerroom.
ODU shot .463 (.25-54) from the field to MSU's .431 (25-58). ODU committed only 11 turnovers to Morgan State's 15.
Morgan State was led by Justin Black with 16 points, followed by DeWayne jackson and Anthony Hubbard with 13.
In the earlier contest, UT San Antonio defeated Holy Cross, 60-56. Jeromie Hill and Michael Hale, III led UTSA with 17 points each. Justin Burrell led Holy Cross with 17 points. The game Rebound leader with Dave Dudzinski of Holy Cross with 12, while Jeromie Hill of UTSA had 10 boards.
ODU will play UTSA Sunday at 2 p.m. in a contest that will be televised live on Cox 11 and Comcast Sportsnet. The Holy Cross-Morgan State contest will start approximately 4:15.