NORFOLK, VA—Old Dominion University red-shirt junior guard Dimitri Batten scored 18 points, including a three-point basket that put the Monarchs up for good with 4:27 left in a 72-65 victory over South Dakota State in the opening round of the College Basketball Invitational Wednesday night. The Monarchs will play Radford Monday night (7 p.m.) at the Constant Center. The Highlanders defeated Oregon State, 96-92.
ODU is now 17-17 on the season while South Dakota State falls to 19-13.
In all, four Monarchs scored in double figures tonight. Joining Batten was Ambrose Mosely with 16, Richard Ross with 12 and Aaron Bacote with 10.
The Monarchs shot a blistering .594 (19-32) from the field in the first half and led, 48-33. Aaron Bacote led ODU with 10 points , followed by nine from Batten and Ambrose Mosley and eight from Jordan Baker. ODU had only two turnovers to SDSU’s nine and the Monarchs scored 18 points off of them.
In the second half the Jackrabbits rallied to take the lead, 63-62 on a three-pointer by Jordan Dykstra with 6:53 left in the game. ODU then got a three-pointer from Batten for a 65-63 lead with 4:27 left. Keenan Palmore hit two free throws for a 67-63 lead, then Batten nailed a jumper with 2:35 left for a 69-63 Monarch lead. ODU scored only 24 points in the second half on .240 (6-25) shooting from the field.
Cody Larson scored on a layup for SDSU, but Ambrose Mosley knocked down three free throws for the final score of 72-65.
ODU finished the game shooting .439 (25-57) from the field and committed only seven turnovers and dished out 17 assists. SDSU shot .414 (24-58) from the field and turned it over 14 times. The Jacksrabbits outrebounded ODU, 41-32.
South Dakota State was led by Jordan Dykstra with 16 points, followed by Cody Larson with 14 points and 12 rebounds and Zach Horstman scored 15.
ODU was led in rebounding by Keenan Palmore with seven. Palmore also dished out seven assists and only had one turnover on the night. Aaron Bacote added five assists.