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Post-Game Press Conference:
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NORFOLK, VA--Freshman Aaron Bacote scored a career high 20 points and DeShawn Painter added 16, but the Monarchs lost to CAA rival William & Mary, 74-62Saturday afternoon before a crowd of 7,872 at the Constant Center. Marcus Thornton scored a career high 32 points to lead the Tribe.
The victory gives the Tribe their first series sweep of ODU, since 1997-98, and five more points in The Optima Health All Sports Challenge standings for a 45-30 lead.
The contest was tied four times, but William and Mary never trailed. The Tribe took a 39-34 Halftime lead, but ODU roared back in the second half to tie the game at 41-41 on a three-pointer by Aaron Bacote with 17:39 left.
W&M retook the lead with a three-pointer by Marcus Thornton for a 44-41 lead, then a dunk by Kyle Gaillard put the lead at five at 48-43 with 14:56 left. ODU would cut it to two points twice, at 48-46 After a three-pointer by Bacote at 13:00 left and at 58-56 with 7:51 left on a basket by Painter,but could never tie or go ahead the rest of the game.
ODU shot .500 (28-56) from the floor, while W&M was .4511 (23-51), but the Tribe outrebounded The Monarchs, 33-29 (20-13 in the second half). DeShawn Painter led ODU with 10 rebounds for His ninth double-double of the season. Matt Rum led W&M with seven rebounds.
Painter was 8-for-11 from the field, Richard Ross was four-for-five and Bacote was 8-for- 14, including 4-for-8 from three-point range. W&M's Thornton was 7-for-17 from the field, 7-for-13 from beyond The arc and 11-for-12 from the free throw line. ODU was 0-7 from the line as a team which is the first time in school history an ODU team has not made a free throw. The previous low was 2-for-5 at Texas Corpus Christi in Nov. 28, 2004.
Both Dimitri Batten and Keenan Palmore led ODU with five assists each, while Richard Ross blocked four shots. Matt Rum led the tribe with six assists.
Today's game was also men's basketball alumni day as over 50 alumni returned, including members of ODU's six CAA Championship teams as well as current Golden State Warrior Kent Bazemore.
The Monarchs host UNC Wilmington Wednesday night at 7 p.m.
