CollegeInsider.com Postseason Tournament

Old Dominion advances to the championship with convincing win over James Madison

March 26, 2009

Box Score

Monarchs never trailed against conference foe.

NORFOLK, VA-- Gerald Lee scored 18 points, Frank Hassell 16 points with 13 rebounds, Kent Bazemore scored 10,and Marsharee Neely added 14 as ODU (24-10) defeated CAA rival James Madison (21-15), 81-43 in the semifinals of the Collegeinsider.com Post Season Tournament. ODU advances to the finals on Tuesday at Bradley. Game time is 8 p.m. ET and will be televised live on Fox College Sports.

The Monarchs jumped out to a 7-0 after a trey by Neely and two baskets by Frank Hassell. ODU built the lead to 16, 27-11 with 10:09 left in the first half. The Dukes rallied to cut the lead to 10, 27-17 after a basket by Juwann James, but Neely hit a three and the Monarchs were off and running to a 39-21 halftime lead.

The Monarchs biggest lead was 38, 79-41 with 3:51 left in the game.

Frank Hassell got his second straight double-double and third of the season.The 13 rebounds ties a career high for him. Bazemore who scored 10 points hauled down a carer high tying eight boards.

The Monarchs shot .462 (30-65) from the floor, while JMU shot .314 (16-51). ODU dominated the boards, 53-22. Besides Hassell's 13, and Bazemore's eight,Ben Finney hauled down seven and Neely had six. Darius James led with five asissts on the night.

James Madison was led by Devon Moore with 13 points, three assists and two steals. Ben Louis led the Dukes with four rebounds.

ODU and Bradley have met only once before and that was the 1994 NIT second round where the Braves defeated the Monarchs, 79-75.