By Harry Minium
After seeing a 12-point lead whither to one, Old Dominion University asserted itself with a 9-0 run in the game's final minutes and claimed an 80-66 basketball victory over crosstown rival Norfolk State Wednesday night at Echols Hall.
ODU led the entire game and had a 12-point lead early in the second half. But the Monarchs went into a shooting funk and Yoro Sidibe put in a layup to pull Norfolk State within a point, 62-61, with 5:47 left.
ODU then put the game away, as A.J. Oliver II buried a 3-pointer, Kalu Ezikpe made back to back fast-break layups and Malik Curry two foul shots to give the Monarchs a 73-61 lead and control of the game with 1:45 left.
Oliver II and Curry each scored 17 and, in spite of playing much of the second half with foul trouble, Joe Reece added 16.
Austin Trice, the transfer from Kansas State, came off the bench to score 11 points and pull down ten rebounds.
The teams played in a near-empty arena, as state COVID regulations limited the crowd to 250 spectators. But the lack of atmosphere did nothing to quell the intensity on the court. Both teams played with a ton of emotion, if not always well.
As he walked off the court, ODU coach Jeff Jones gave an emotional thumbs-up to Athletic Director Wood Selig.
It was the 20th game between the city's two Division I schools and the fourth in a row won and by the Monarchs (2-1), who have claimed eight of the last nine games against the Spartans. ODU leads the series, 14-6.
Norfolk State (2-1) defeated James Madison and Radford in its first two games.
"We knew coming in that this wasn't going to be an easy game, that Norfolk State had already gotten two quality road wins and would be excited playing at home," Jones said.
"This was really a good win for us. We showed some resiliency in not getting flustered when Norfolk State came back a couple of times."
Jones was asked about the pre-game hype, which largely focused on comments from Norfolk State coach Robert Jones who said, in part, the teams should play every season.
"I don't want to get too much into that," Jones said. "Norfolk State has a quality program and all this stuff going back and forth, let me just say I just I respect them. They are a good team and we obviously got a chance to beat a good team.
"But I will say our guys obviously read. They're on social media, and so they were aware of a lot of what was said. I'd say without a doubt they were excited to come in here and play. They knew we were playing a quality opponent who would give us their best shot.
"That's what happened, and we were extremely happy to come here and get the win."
Jeff Jones renewed the rivalry with Norfolk State after a 14-year hiatus in 2015-16, when he scheduled a game with the Spartans at Chartway Arena. ODU won, 68-57, before a sellout crowd. ODU also prevailed, 61-50, at Scope in 2017-18.
The teams are scheduled to meet again in 2022-23 at ODU, their fourth meeting in eight seasons.
The teams last met at Norfolk State in 1971-72, at old Gill Gymnasium, when the Monarchs prevailed, 98-90. ODU swept three games from ODU that season and advanced to the Division II national championship, where the Monarchs fell to Evansville.
ODU is in the midst of a six-game stretch against in-state opponents. The Monarchs travel to JMU on Monday before traveling to Richmond for what is scheduled to be games against VCU on Dec. 12 and George Mason on Dec. 13.
ODU closes its non-conference schedule against Virginia Wesleyan on Dec. 22 at Chartway Arena.
ODU Takes Control With a 9-0 Run in The Final Minutes To Claim an 80-66 Victory Over Norfolk State
