NORFOLK, VA— The ODU Monarchs (1-1) placed five players in double figures led by sophomore guard Aaron Bacote (Hampton, VA.) with 20 points and five assists in a 77-57 victory over Howard (2-1) Wednesday night before a crowd of 6102 at the Ted Constant Convocation Center. It was also the first ODU victory for head coach Jeff Jones.
Joining Bacote in double figures were freshman guard Jordan Baker with 13, red-shirt junior Dimitri Batten (Newport News, VA.) with 12, freshman forward Denzell Taylor (Brampton, Ontario) and red-shirt junior forward Richard Ross (Wichita Falls, TX.) with 10 points a career high six blocked shots and a career high 12 rebounds. The 10 points for Taylor was also a career high.
The Monarchs took a 35-29 halftime lead, then opened it up to 18, 58-40 with 10:49 left in the game led by Jordan Baker (Hampton, VA.) who scored eight straight points at one point.
The Monarchs shot .509 (28-55) from the field to the Bison .292 (19-65) and battled Howard even on the boards at 46-46. Denzell Taylor was four-for-six from the floor, while Baker was four-for seven.
Ross hauled down a game high 12 rebounds, but Baker had a career high eight and fellow freshman Taylor added a career high seven. ODU also came up with nine steals and nine blocked shots.
The Monarchs dished out 18 assists, led by Bacote with a game high five, followed by Keenan Palmore (Stone Mountain, GA.) and Dimitri Batten with four each.
Howard was led by James Daniel with a game high 26 points, while Oliver Ellison hauled down nine rebounds.
ODU returns to action Friday night when they host the Racers of Murray State at 7 p.m.