Jonathan Arledge (Silver Spring, MD.) and Trey Freeman (Virginia Beach, VA.) scored 17 points each and Aaron Bacote (Hampton, VA.) added 15 to help lead Old Dominion (16-4/5-3) to a 71-56 Conference-USA victory over Florida International Thursday night at the Constant Center.
With 12:06 left in the game, FIU cut an ODU 13-point lead down to four on a three-pointer by C-USA leading scorer Dennis Mavin at 45-41. The Monarchs proceeded to go on a 7-0 run with a layup by Bacote, a three-pointer by Freeman and layup by junior forward Javonte Douglas (Charlotte, NC.) to push to the lead to 11 (52-41) with 8:26 remaining.
FIU made one more rally cutting the lead to six, 56-50 with 5:41 left on a three-pointer by Ray Rodriguez, but the Monarchs closed the deal with a 9-0 run led by four points from Arledge, a three-point from Baker and layup from Bacote for a 65-50 lead with 3:13 left in the contest.
ODU shot .500 (29-58) from the floor, while FIU shot .417 (20-48). FIU edged the Monarchs out on the boards, 34-33, but ODU committed only six turnovers, while FIU had 14. The Monarchs scored 21 points off those Panther turnovers.
In addition to scoring 17 points, Freeman grabbed a team best seven rebounds and handed out five assists. Bacote, who now has 983 career points was second in rebounding tonight with six and handed out four assists. Junior guard Keenan Palmore (Stone Mountain, GA.) added five rebounds, four assists and two steals to go along with his five points.
FIU was led by Adrian Diaz with 17 points, while Mavin had a double-double with 16 points and 10 rebounds.
The Monarchs return to action Saturday night against Florida Atlantic at 7 p.m. which is Big Blue’s (mascot) Birthday.
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