COLLEGE PARK, Md. – The Old Dominion men's basketball team (0-1, 0-0 C-USA) commenced the 2020-21 season with an 85-67 loss at Maryland (1-0, 0-0 Big Ten) on Wednesday afternoon at the XFINITY Center (no fans in attendance).
With 6:45 to play in the opening half, a Kalu Ezikpe and-one pulled the Monarchs within one, 24-23. The Terps would end the first half on an 18-6 run to claim a 42-29 lead.
Maryland scored the first four points of the second half, before a Xavier Green three-point play trimmed Old Dominion's deficit to 14, 46-32, at the 18:00 minute mark; however, the Monarchs would not get any closer the rest of the way.
Ezikpe scored a career-high 19 points (8-13 FG), to compliment a 13-rebound double-double. Ezikpe also had three steals and one block. Malik Curry went for 17 points, three rebounds and three assists. A.J. Oliver II chipped in eight points.
Austin Trice, David Strother, Brady O'Connell and John Shanu II all made their ODU debuts on Wednesday afternoon.
Maryland received 15 votes in the 2020-21 Preseason Coaches Poll after ending last season nationally ranked No. 11 after compiling a 24-7 overall record with a 14-6 mark in league play, which was enough to clinch the Big Ten regular season title.
Old Dominion will be back in action on Saturday, Nov. 28, when the Monarchs welcome William & Mary to Chartway Arena for ODU's home opener. Tipoff is slated for 7:00 p.m. EST. Saturday night's game will be streamed for FREE on www.ODUSports.com.
Monarchs Fall at Maryland in Season Opener, 85-67
