NORFOLK, VA-- Old Dominion University sophomore guard Aaron Bacote (Hampton, VA. )scored a game high 23 points and fellow sophomore Keenan Palmore (Stone Mountain, GA.) added 15 to lead the Monarchs to an 81-50 exhibition win over Elizabeth City State Friday night at the Ted Constant Convocation Center.
ODU led by five, 22-17 with 8:27 left in the first half, then outscored the Vikings 15-5 the rest of the half for a 37-22 halftime lead, as Bacote scored 14 points in the half. The Monarchs took care of the ball as well, committing only four turnovers in the first half to ECSU 14 and ODU scored 16 points off of those mistakes.
ODU finished the game shooting .469 (30-64) from the field, including .581 (18-31) in the second half. ODU also outrebounded the Vikings, 40-34. ECSU finished the evening with .333 (15-45) from the floor and 24 turnovers. The Monarchs fnished with 12 steals on the night and scored 32 points off turnovers.
Palmore, who led with four steals and four assists was six-for-eight from the floor and Bacote was eight-for-16. Red-shirt junior forward Richard Ross (Wichita Falls, TX.) came off the bench to add 12 points and a game high 12 rebounds.
Newcomers Jordan Baker (Hampton, VA.) added nine points and Ambrose Mosley (Jacksonville, FL.) eight for the Monarchs. ODU opens the regular season next Friday night, Nov. 8 against Missouri State at 7 p.m. in the Constant Center.