NORFOLK, VA—Trey Freeman (Virginia Beach, VA.) scored 21 points with eight rebounds and Richard Ross (Wichita Falls, TX.) came off the bench to add 14 points and 10 rebounds to lead the Monarchs of Old Dominion to a 67-50 C-USA victory over Marshall Thursday night at the Constant center. The win was ODU’s 20th straight at home which ties them for 10th nationally with Kentucky and ODU is 16-0 this season in the Ted.
ODU is now tied for second with UAB who lost to FAU and Western Kentucky who beat Charlotte tonight for second. UTEP against North Texas was the late game tonight.
Marshall led, 27-24 with 2:33 left in the first half, and the Monarchs finished the half on a 9-2 run capped off with a three-pointer by Javonte Douglas for a 33-29 halftime lead. ODU led the entire second half with 19 as the largest lead, 67-48 with 52 seconds left.
The double-double for Ross is his ninth career double-double. He also blocked two shots and assisted on two scores. Freeman broke the 20-point mark for the 10th time this season and the third time in the last five games. Freeman also had four steals on the night.
The Monarchs shot .483 (28-58) from the field while Marshall shot .396 (19-48). ODU also dominated the boards, 36-28. Joining Ross on the boards were Denzell Taylor (Brampton, Ontario) with eight rebounds and Freeman with eight. Taylor also had two assists, two blocked and three steals. Aaron Bacote (Hampton, VA.) added a game high five assists.
Austin Loop led Marshall with 13 points, followed by JP Kambola with 11 and Justin Edmonds with 10.
The Monarchs return to action Saturday night at 5:30 when they host Western Kentucky on the nationally televised contest on the American Sports Network. It will also be the final regular season home game for seniors Richard Ross, Joe Ebondo (Euless, TX.) and graduate student Jonathan Arledge (Silver Spring, MD.).