Monarchs claw back from big deficit for win
NORFOLK — Because of state restrictions regarding COVID19, there weren’t more than 250 spectators allowed in Chartway Arena on Friday night. But those precious few got to see an epic comeback by the Old Dominion men, led by Austin Trice and Kalu Ezikpe.
Trailing by 21 with 17 minutes remaining, the Monarchs zoomed ahead by six points and then repelled Marshall 82-81. The Monarchs tied a school record for the biggest deficit erased in a victory; the Monarchs came back from a 21-0 deficit against Western Kentucky in 2019.
ODU improved to 9-4, 5-2 in Conference USA, heading into Saturday’s 7 p.m. rematch. The Thundering Herd fell to 9-5, 3-4.
Because of COVID-19 protocols, ODU hadn’t played since its Jan. 15-16 series split with Rice in Houston. The Monarchs used only eight players, with regulars A.J. Oliver and Malik Curry among those unavailable to play.
Trice came off the bench to lead ODU with 20 points and a careerhigh 13 rebounds. Joe Reece and Ezikpe, who dunked for the eventual winning points, added 16 points apiece, and Ezikpe had 12 rebounds, three steals and two blocks. he Monarchs shot 65.7% (23 of 35) from the floor in the second half. For the game, ODU held a 47-25 advantage on the boards. Taevion Kinsey scored 22 points for the Herd, while Obinna Anochili-Killen had 16.
Marshall controlled most of the first half, finishing it with a 13-4 surge for a 42-28 halftime edge. It looked even more bleak for the Monarchs when they fell behind 56-35, but two Ezikpe baskets began a 26-5 stretch that evened the score at 61 on a Jaylin Hunter jumper with 10:05 to play.
ODU led most of the time thereafter, but Andrew Taylor’s 3-pointer at the 1:24 mark capped a 7-0 Marshall run for an 81-80 edge. On ODU’s next possession, Ezikpe drove around a defender on the left baseline for a dunk at the 1:03 mark. Neither team scored again.
Marshall’s Jannson Williams earned an offensive rebound, but missed two free throws with 37 seconds left. The possession arrow came into play on each team’s next trip downcourt, prompting the Herd to foul ODU’s Mekhi Long with eight seconds to play. Long missed the front end of his one-and-one chance, but the Herd settled for a 35-footer by David Early that bounced off the front rim. Ezikpe snagged the rebound to end the game.