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Post-Game Press Conference:
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NORFOLK, VA. ODU senior DeShawn Painter (Norfolk, VA.) scored acareer high 26 points along with 10 rebounds, but VCU defeated the Monarchs, 83-70 behind 24 points from Troy Daniels and 23 by Treveon Graham before a crowd of 8,080 at the Ted Constant Convocation Center. The loss was ODU's seventh in a row.
Painter hit 11-of-14 free throws along with seven-of-15 from the floor and a treyto break his previous high of 19 against Morehead State in November of last year while playing for N.C. State. It was Painter's second double-double of the season.
Troy Daniels tied a VCU school record with eight 3-pointers in scoring a career-best 24 points Friday night.
VCU led much of the night and by as many as 20 points until the Monarchs closed within 65-53 with eight minutes left after a 10-3 run capped by two free throws by Painter. But Rob Brandenberg scored on a drive with the shot clock winding down, Briante Weber tapped a steal into the open court and Brandenberg chased it down, slipped into the left corner and made the Rams' 11th 3-pointer to push the lead back up to 17.
After a media timeout, Brandenberg's drive and 3-pointer and a pair of free throws by Graham rebuilt the margin to 19 with six minutes to go. The Monarchs would get no closer than 11, 81-70 with 41 seconds left in the game.
Daniels, who hadn't scored more than 12 points this season and had never made more than five 3-pointers, had 18 points by halftime. When he hit his sixth from behind the arc, it gave the Rams a 37-21 lead 2:48 before halftime.The Monarchs closed to 43-30 at the break,on a DeShawn Painter three-pointer. Painter had 11 of the Monarch 30 points at halftime.
VCU shot .456 (26-57) from the field, while ODU shot .417 (25-60). VCU hit 11-of-21from three-point range. ODU outrebounded the Rams, 43-32 led by Painter's 10 boards, followed by eight from freshman guard Keenan Palmore and seven from red-shirt junior forward Anton Larsen. The Monarchs have outrebounded seven of theireight opponents this year.
Weber dished out 10 assists along with five steals for the Rams, while junior DonteHill led ODU with six assists and four steals. along with 13 points. Hill was six-for nine from the field.
ODU breaks for exams, then returns to action on Friday night when they host theKnights of Central Florida at 7 p.m. in the Constant Center.