Curry, ODU keep cool
What could’ve been a miserable wait worked out OK for Old Dominion.
Instead of misery, the Monarchs had extra time to exhale and reflect on a remarkable turnaround.
Malik Curry scored 27 points and ODU kept its cool down the stretch Saturday in a 71-66 Conference USA win over Florida International at Ocean Bank Convocation Center in Miami.
The Monarchs (5-3, 1-1 C-USA) made nine straight free throws in the final 1:53 to keep FIU (7-3, 1-1) at arm’s length after the Golden Panthers’ comeback.
The victory, part of a two-game series, followed Friday’s 82-67 loss.
ODU coach Jeff Jones said he had spoken to his players about other teams’ ability to bounce back against an opponent a day or two later. That the Monarchs did it made for a pleasant evening.
“It can be done,” Jones told ODU’s radio network shortly after 5 p.m. “It’s up to us. I’ll tell you what: Our flight’s not till 9:25. That would be a long wait had we not won. So if for nothing else, for that I’m very grateful.”
ODU led by as many as 13 points in the second half before the Panthers roared back to twice take a one-point lead.
A .J. Oliver ’s clutch 3-pointer from the top of the key gave the Monarchs a 65-61 lead with 38 seconds left, and FIU was left to foul.
ODU scored its final nine
points from the free-throw line.
“I think any team could’ve very easily folded and not been ready to play,” Jones said. “But then when FIU came back and actually went ahead, it would’ve been, I think human, maybe, to hang our heads. But we fought and obviously made some big free throws, got some stops. It’s a terrific win. As disappointed as we were (Friday), I’m very happy today.”
Radshad Davis scored 18 points for the Panthers, who were held to 39.7% shooting and made 8 of 31 from 3-point range.
FIU’s Jonathan Nunez made a long 3-pointer from the left wing to pull the Panthers to within 67-64 with 15 seconds left. But Oliver and Curry both sank a pair of free throws at the other end.
An inconsequential layup at the horn accounted for the final margin. It was a far cry from Friday, when the Monarchs pulled to within 10 before allowing eight consecutive points late in the game.
“We’ve got to learn a lesson from last night and today, and the difference,” Jones said. “It didn’t just happen, right? … Our players had to approach this game differently, and they did. Hopefully, the lesson is learned.”
The Monarchs used a pair of 9-0 spurts, holding FIU without a field goal for stretches of 4 ½ and
3½ minutes to build a 28-17 lead with just more than five minutes left in the first half.
ODU, using a constantly changing zone defense, led by as many as 13 before taking a 33-22 advantage into halftime. The Monarchs made 4 of 10 from 3-point range, including a 4-for-7 start, in the half.
Florida Atlantic is scheduled to visit ODU for a pair of games beginning Friday.
ODU 71, FIU 66
ODU (5-3, 1-1Conference USA): Ezikpe 1-6 4-6 6, Reece 0-1 2-3 2, Curry 9-17 6-7 27, Green 1-5 1-2 3, Oliver 4-5 4-4 14, Trice 1-3 2-4 4, Long 3-6 0-0 8, Hunter 2-4 3-3 7. Totals 21-47 22-29 71.
FIU (7-3, 1-1): Carrigan 2-20-0 4, Davis 6-12 3-3 18, Brewer 2-8 0-0 5, Daye 2-9 4-4 8, Lovett 4-11 1-2 11, Mason 3-4 3-4 9, Krivokapic 0-1 0-0 0, Wilcox 2-3 1-2 5, Nunez 1-1 0-0 3, Corcoran 0-1 0-0 0, Hawkins 1-5 0-0 3, Mitchell 0-1 0-0 0. Totals 23-58 12-15 66.
Half—ODU 33-22. 3-point goals—ODU 7-17 (Curry 3-6, Long 2-3, Oliver 2-3, Hunter 0-1, Ezikpe 0-2, Green 0-2), FIU 8-31 (Davis 3-7, Lovett 2-8, Nunez 1-1, Brewer 1-5, Hawkins 1-5, Corcoran 0-1, Mitchell 0-1, Daye 0-3). Fouled out—Carrigan, Brewer. Rebounds—ODU 29 (Ezikpe 6), FIU 32 (Davis 10). Assists—ODU 9 (Green 3), FIU 15 (Davis, Brewer, Daye 4). Fouls—ODU 18, FIU 25. A—149.