ST. THOMAS, U.S. Virgin Islands – The Old Dominion men’s basketball team (2-3) lost a 54-53 heartbreaker to Northern Iowa (3-2) in the fifth place game of the 2018 U.S. Virgin Islands Paradise Jam on Monday afternoon at the University of the Virgin Islands Sports & Fitness Center.
Aaron Carver’s first career three-pointer tied the contest at 32 all at the 15:05 mark, helping the Monarchs start the second half on a 15-8 run. The Panthers answered with a 16-7 run of their own, claiming a 50-43 lead with 6:30 to play. Old Dominion utilized a 7-0 run to tie the game at 50 apiece, forcing a UNI timeout with 2:09 remaining in regulation. Northern Iowa scored the next four points, taking a 54-50 lead with 17 seconds left, before Ahmad Caver drilled a three-pointer as time expired.
Caver led all scorers with 24 points, to compliment three rebounds, three assists and two steals. B.J. Stith (six points, two assists, two steals and one block) and Aaron Carver (three points, four assists and two steals) each hauled down a game-high 11 rebounds.
For the game, Old Dominion’s defense held UNI to 36.7% (18-49) shooting from the floor. For the contest, ODU held advantages for points in the paint (20-10), points off turnovers (13-4), second chance points (10-4), fast-break points (6-0) and rebounds (39-35). The game experienced six ties and three lead changes.
At the half, Old Dominion trailed by five, 26-21, as Caver scored a half-high seven points, while Carver hauled down a half-high eight rebounds.
Old Dominion will take on Northern Iowa for the second time in five days on Friday, Nov. 23 at 7:00 p.m. at the Ted Constant Convocation Center. Friday night’s game will stream live on C-USA TV.