Old Dominion Monarchs NCAA Basketball News

GAME NOTES: A longtime rivalry adds another chapter on Sunday afternoon, as the Virginia Commonwealth Rams welcome the Old Dominion Monarchs to the Siegel Center.

Old Dominion plays at Virginia Commonwealth today, the latest installment of what not so long ago was the state's most intense basketball rivalry.

"Prior to coming to ODU I wasn't really that familiar with how much of a heated rivalry it's been over the years," he said.

ODU red-shirt junior Dimitri Batten scored a career high tying 25 points and a career high 10 rebounds, but North Carolina Central defeated Old Dominion, 76-69 in overtime Tuesday night at the Ted Constant Convocation Center.

The Eagles used a balanced attack, putting four players in double figures. Kamaro Jawara, Jeremy Ingram and Jordan Parks all chipped in with 14 points apiece.

ODU sophomore Aaron Bacote scored 15 points and red-shirt freshman Ambrose Mosley added a career high 12 points, but the Monarchs lost to the Billikens of Saint Louis , 62-52 in the third place game of the Cancun Challenge at the Hard Rock Riviera Maya Resort.

Hot-shooting West Virginia spoiled the first game of Old Dominion's Mexican adventure, despite the efforts of two Peninsula District alums.

Old Dominion guard Keenan Palmore scored a career-high 24 points as the Monarchs started quickly and never let up in a 69-51 rout of the Presbyterian Blue Hose on Thursday at the Constant Center.

Richard Ross is listed, perhaps a tad generously, at 6-foot-6. Fellow Old Dominion "bigs" Joe Ebondo and Denzell Taylor measure out at 6-7 in the game program.

The Old Dominion Monarchs scored the first eight points of the second half to erase a six-point deficit and surge past the Murray State Racers 70-60 Friday night at the Constant Center.

Five players scored in double figures led by Aaron Bacote with 20 as Old Dominion pulled away for a 77-57 win over Howard Wednesday night.

Old Dominion displayed portions of the formula that will lead to success this season: balance, unselfishness, defensive effort, a presence around the basket.

The Monarchs devoted Sunday's session to late-game situations, coach Jeff Jones said, and the goal was to shore up an area that cost them dearly in Friday's loss.