PENSACOLA, Fla. – Oddsmakers gave the Old Dominion men’s basketball team less than a one-in-four chance of defeating Texas State Thursday in the Sun Belt Tournament, but led by their stifling defense, and a clutch three-point shot from Robert Davis Jr., that’s just what the Monarchs did.
ODU rallied from a late six-point deficit, shut out Texas State for nearly two minutes, and then walked out of the Pensacola Bay Center with a 64-61 victory after Davis cooly swished a three-pointer with 1.8 seconds left.
An untimely foul with .8 seconds left sent Texas State’s Christian Turner to the foul line after he heaved up a desperation three-point shot. But Turner, who does not excel from the free-throw line, missed all three foul shots.
The Monarchs (14-19), who have won three games in a row, take on sixth-seeded App State Friday night at 8:30.
While ODU has won two games in two nights, it will be the first game for App State. The teams split the series in the regular season, with each winning on the road.
ODU must win three more games to get to Monday’s championship game.
“I’m extremely proud of our team,” said first-year ODU Head Coach Mike Jones, a Monarch alumnus. “That was an extremely physical game and for a young team like we are, an inexperienced team like we are, to respond the way we did, this is what March Madness is all about.”
Davis led the Monarchs with 23 points and Sean Durugordon added 19. Freshman point guard Jaden Johnson and senior R.J. Blakney added nine points apiece.
And both Johnson and Blakney played outstanding defense in the final minutes.
Texas State (16-16) had eliminated ODU from the Sun Belt Tournament the last two seasons and for much of the second half, it looked like the Bobcats would do so a third time.
Texas State led, 57-51, with 5:33 left, but then ODU turned up the defensive pressure and the Bobcat offense essentially shut down.
Blakney dunked and Johnson made a fallaway jumper to trim the lead to 57-55.
Davis was fouled on a three-pointer that rimmed out with 3:02 left and made two of three foul shots to tie the score at 57-57 with 2:15 left.
Johnson then made a fallaway jump shot, was fouled and made the foul shot and ODU led 60-59 with 2:15 left.
It was a physical game in which the officials let the players go at each other, both teams struggled to score down the stretch. The teams combined for six missed shots and four turnovers until Durugordon made a free throw with 14 seconds left to give ODU a 61-59 lead.
Coleton Benson made two free throws with eight second left to tie the score, and Johnson quickly moved the ball across half court and called a timeout.
Blakney then leaped for the inbounds pass with 4.8 seconds left and, on a pick and roll, found Davis, who was wide open on the right side.
“We work on that play literally every day in practice,” Davis said. “Coach Jones said, ‘Go take us home,’ and I guess I did.”
Jones singled out Blakney for his effort, especially on defense in the second half.
"He's had his ups and downs over his career, he's had his ups and downs this season," Jones said. "But he truly does understand what time of year this is.
"He's earned the right to be in the position he is in. We're so blessed that he's on our side."
This had been a difficult season for ODU, which lost three key players to injuries and lost six games in a row before finishing the regular season with a 61-59 victory over Coastal Carolina.
“I feel so blessed to be a Monarch,” Jones said. “And at this time of year, after all this team has been through, I believe our guys are truly embracing that.
“This was a blessing from God. We pray before every game. We don’t pray for wins. We just pray to be healthy and to give it our best effort.
“We are truly honored to represent our fan base and our school.”
