ODU defeats Charleston Southern, 65-56, in NIT opener

Jonathan Arledge, Trey Freeman and Ambrose Mosley combined for 51 points to lead the No. 1 seeded Monarchs of Old Dominion (25-7) to a 65-56 NIT opening round victory over Charleston Southern Wednesday night.

The victory was the Monarchs 22^nd straight at home which ranks eighth nationally. The victory was the 400th career win for ODU Head Coach Jeff jones.

ODU will host Illinois State of the Missouri Valley who beat Wis. Green Bay, 69-56 in second round on a date and time to be determined at the Constant Center. The Red Birds defeated the Monarchs in the semifinals of the Paradise Jam, 64-45 back on Nov. 23^rd.

Arledge led the way with 22 points and 10 rebounds, followed by Ambrose Mosley with 15 points off the bench and C-USA Newcomer of the Year trey Freeman recorded a triple-double of 14 points, a career high tying 11 rebounds and 10 assists. That is the first triple-double for ODU since All-American Mark West did it in against William & Mary on Feb. 17,1982 with 14 points, 11 rebounds and 10 blocked shots.

The Monarchs led by as many as seven, 10-3 with 14:23 left in the half, but the Buccaneers rallied to take a 22-19 lead with7:56 left after a three-pointer by Saah Nimley. Charleston southern would go on to lead at halftime, 33-27.

In the second half the Monarchs regained the lead, 34-33 on a three-pointer by Jordan Baker with 17:43 left. The contest was tied two times after that, but when Ambrose Mosley drained a three-pointer with 10:25 left, putting the Monarchs up for good, 47-44.

Charleston Southern would get to within two, 58-56 on a Nimley three-pointer, but Mosley came right back with a three-pointer and then a couple of free throws by Arledge and Freeman sealed the contest.

Charleston Southern was led by Big South Player of the Year Saah Nimley with 27 points, hitting six-of-12 three-pointers.  Will Saunders added 13 and Paul Gombwer hauled down nine boards.

ODU shot .382 (26-68) from the floor, but dominated the boards 46-36.  Freeman led with 11 rebounds, Arledge followed by 10 and Denzell Taylor added nine with Richard Ross hauling down seven.   CSU shot .340 (17-50) from the field.