NORFOLK, VA—The ODU Monarchs (8-1) rallied from eight points down late in the second half to defeat Georgia State, 58-54 in overtime in the Ted Constant Convocation Center Wednesday night. The Sun Belt Conference favorites fall to 6-3, ending their five game winning streak.
The last time ODU was 8-1 was during the 2004-05 season and the Monarchs last overtime win was also against Georgia State on Feb. 22 of 2012, 65-60 in Atlanta.
Trey Freeman (Virginia Beach, VA.) led ODU with 21 points, scoring six during the Monarchs second half rally and four in the overtime. Aaron Bacote (Hampton, VA.) followed with 14 points, seven rebounds and four assists while Richard Ross (Wichita Falls, TX.) added 11 rebounds and four blocked shots, Jonathan Arledge (Silver Spring, MD.) eight points and nine rebounds and Denzell Taylor Ontario, Canada) with seven points, seven rebounds and a blocked shot.
Trey Freeman tied the game with 1:19 left in overtime, then after a monarch defensive stop Freeman came back with another driving layup to put ODU up 56-54 with 35 seconds left. The Panthers missed a shot and after a timeout, Jonathan Arledge god a break-a-way dunk as time ran out to make the final 58-54.
The Monarchs led 42-39 after a Denzell Taylor dunk with 11:45 left in regulation, but Georgia State went on an 11-0 run to take a 50-42 lead with 5:51 remaining. Trey Freeman scored three baskets and Aaron Bacote knocked down two free throws and the Monarchs tied the game at 50-50 with 59 seconds left.
Denzell Taylor blocked a Panther shot and after Freeman’s shot was blocked got the offensive rebound and was fouled with 0.4 seconds left but Taylor missed the two free throws to send the game to extra time.
The Monarchs shot .349(22-63) from the floor, while GSU shot .373 (22-59). The Monarchs dominated the boards, 53-35.
Georgia State came into the game with two of the nation's top 25 scorers in RJ Hunter and Ryan Harrow. Hunter finished with 13 and Harrow led with 16. Hunter also led with 10 rebounds.
The win was ODU's fifth over a top 50 NCAA RPI team this season. ODU's RPI was 27th and GSU was 47.
ODU returns to action Friday night to host Maryland-Eastern Shore at the Constant Center at 7 p.m.