RICHMOND, VA.—ODU freshman forward Denzell Taylor scored his first collegiate double-double with a career high 14 points along with 11 rebounds and sophomore Aaron Bacote scored 20 points in the Monarchs 67-58 loss to the University of Richmond Saturday evening in an NBC Sports Network televised contest. ODU is now 5-8 and Richmond improves to 9-4
The Monarchs led 25-24 at halftime thanks to a balanced attack led by red-shirt freshman guard Ambrose Mosley with six points off the bench and four points from Taylor, Bacote, Keenan Palmore and Dimitri Batten. Mosley was 2-for-4 from beyond the arc in the first half.
In the second half, the Spiders reeled off a 9-0 run to start the half and take a 35-27 lead on a tip-in by Nelson Ododa at the 15:58 mark. Denzell Taylor’s basket broke the run. Cedric Lindsy led the Spiders scoring all 19 of his points in the second half.
ODU would close to within seven three times in the final minute of play, the last with 37 seconds left on two free throws by Bacote to make it 63-56, but would get no closer.
Taylor’s 14 points (10 in the second half)came on 7-of-8 shooting from the field and his 11 rebounds was the second most this season. His career high 12 boards were against Murray State. Bacote hit 11 –of-12 free throws equaling his outing early this year against Georgia Southern. Ambrose Mosley added eight points.
The Monarchs shot .396 (19-48) from the floor, while UR was .418 (23-55). ODU outrebounded the much taller Spiders, 40-30 led by Taylor’s 11, Richard Ross with seven and Dimitri Batten and Mosley with five each. The Monarchs turned the ball over 17 times to just seven for Richmond and the Spiders scored 17 points off them.
Besides Lindsay’s 19 points, Kendall Anthony added 17 and Alonz Nelson-Ododa added 13 points and 10 rebounds. Lindsay also dished out seven assists with three steals.
The Monarchs return to action Wednesday on New Year’s evening at 7 p.m. in Williamsburg, VA against the Tribe of William and Mary in an Optima Health Challenge contest between the two schools.