WHO: Rice (8-16, 3-8 C-USA) at Old Dominion (14-10, 7-4 C-USA)
WHEN: Saturday, February 13 at 2:00 p.m. EST
WHERE: Ted Constant Convocation Center – Norfolk, Va.
---MEDIA---
TV: American Sports Network (ASN)
TV Announcers: Dave Barnett (Play By Play) and Blaine Taylor (Color)
Cox: 2 & 1002 (HD)
Verizon FIOS: 11 & 511 (HD)
Direct TV: 33
DISH: 33
Charter: 9 & 709 (HD)
Over the Air: 33 WTVZ (MyTV)
---RADIO---
The game will air across the Commonwealth on ESPN Radio 94.1 in Hampton Roads, Sports FM 100.5 in Central Virginia and WLVA 94.1 and FOX Sports 580 in Lynchburg.
(Ted Alexander and Dave Twardzik’s live pregame show begins at 1:30 p.m. EST)
NORFOLK, Va. – Old Dominion (14-10, 7-4 C-USA) will look to win its fifth consecutive game, when the Monarchs welcome Rice (8-16, 3-8 C-USA) to the Ted Constant Convocation Center on Saturday, Feb. 13 at 2:00 p.m. EST. The game will air on television on the American Sports Network with Dave Barnett handling play-by-play duties and Blaine Taylor taking care of the color commentary.
Saturday will mark alumni day. Alumni are asked to check in at the VIP entrance at 45th street and then the reception will be held on the club level in the north end. Gates open at 1 p.m. Alumni will be introduced at halftime.
ALL-TIME SERIES
Old Dominion holds the all-time series against Rice 4-0 as the Monarchs swept the Owls last season with nearly identical final scores (63-53 and 63-54). The team first met in 1971-72 season.
LAST TIME OUT FOR OLD DOMINION
Brandan Stith’s career and game-high of 17 points to go along with his team-high 11 rebounds lifted the Old Dominion men's basketball team (14-10, 7-4 C-USA) over North Texas (9-15, 4-7 C-USA) by a 67-47 score on Thursday evening at the Ted Constant Center. Four Monarchs scored in double-figures, as ODU overcame a halftime deficit to extend its winning streak to four.
North Texas was held to its lowest scoring output of the season, as the 47 points were over 29 points below the Mean Green's season average of 76.3.
After trailing by three at halftime, Old Dominion dominated the second half, outscoring the Mean Green, 46-23. The Monarchs also held a commanding 27-12 advantage in rebounds in the second half.
Thursday night marked the first time that Stith has led the Monarchs in scoring in his career, while the sophomore recorded his fourth double-double of the season.
Trey Freeman and Zoran Talley each added 13 points, while Aaron Bacote was the fourth Monarch in double figures with 10.
INSIDE THE NUMBERS FOR OLD DOMINION
For the season, Trey Freeman is leading the way for the Monarchs averaging 21.0 ppg and 3.9 rpg. Aaron Bacote is averaging 13.6 points a contest, while Brandan Stith is netting 9.8 ppg to compliment 8.8 boards per contest. Zoran Talley is averaging 8.4 points and 5.0 rebounds, while Nik Biberaj is chipping in 5.3 points per outing to go along with 3.9 boards. Denzell Taylor currently leads ODU with 174 total rebounds (7.3 per game), as well as offensive rebounds with 96.
Old Dominion is averaging 67.6 points a game, while holding opponents to 61.5 points on 39.8% shooting from the floor and 30.6% from long-range. The Monarchs only turn the ball over 9.4 times per game.
MEET RICE
The Owls enter Saturday’s contest with an 8-16 overall record and a 3-8 mark in C-USA play. Marcus Evans, from Chesapeake, Va., leads Rice in scoring, netting 19.8 points per game as the front-runner to claim the Conference USA Freshman of the Year award.
Also averaging double figures for the Owls are Egor Koulechov (16.8 ppg) and Marquez Letcher-Ellis (10.3 ppg).
Mike Rhoades, one of the architects of Virginia Commonwealth's run of NCAA Tournament appearances, was named the 24th head coach in Rice University men's basketball history in 2014.
Rhoades spent five seasons on staff at VCU, which posted a 137-46 record during his tenure. The Rams played in postseason tournaments each of his five years, the last four in the NCAA Tournament. That run was highlighted by a trip to the Final Four in 2011.
Rhoades joined Shaka Smart's staff as an assistant coach in Smart's first season (2009-10), a year which saw the Rams win 27 games and the CBI Tournament championship. The following season, VCU tied the program record with 28 wins and made national headlines during a thrilling run as an 11th seed that saw the Rams defeat USC, Georgetown, Purdue, Florida State and Kansas to earn a spot in the Final Four, held at Reliant Stadium in Houston.
DON’T MISS THE ACTION!
Monarch basketball season tickets are on sale now for the 2015-16 season at YNottix.com or by calling the box office 757-683-4444.
TICKETS (Single Game)
Adult Lower Bowl - $17
Adult Club - $31
Military/Seniors/Youth/Faculty Staff - $15
Group pricing available by calling Todd McKeating at 757-683-7087
WHAT A DEAL! - VOUCHER BOOKS
Get 10 tickets to use at any home ODU basketball games during the 2015-16 regular season. Use them all at one game to bring family and friends, or spread them out over the season. The choice is yours! The price is $120 for a men’s basketball voucher book. That’s a $50 savings over purchasing at the ticket window. Purchase now at www.ynottix.com.
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