O’Dell’s 24 points pace Saint Rose
Schalmont grad helps Golden Knights reach NE-10 quarterfinals
Shane O’Dell scored 24 points and Eric Fleming added 17 to lead the Saint Rose men to an 80-76 win over Southern New Hampshire in a Northeast-10 Conference firstround playoff game on Saturday in Albany.
Fleming’s dunk with eight minutes left gave Saint Rose the lead for good, but the Penmen kept it a one-possession game until Adam Anderson buried a 3pointer with 59 seconds left to give the Golden Knights a 78-74 lead. O’Dell and Tray Alexander both made one of two free throws in the final 13 seconds to seal the win.
Playing in his first collegiate playoff game, O’Dell scored 13 points in the first half as the game went to halftime tied at 40.
Saint Rose (14-11) twice led by five points in the second half, the largest lead either team would have in the final 20 minutes.
Aaron Gray scored 16 points and grabbed seven rebounds for the Penmen (13-11). Corry Long added 15 points in the loss.
Fourth-seeded Saint Rose plays at top seed Bentley in the quarterfinals on Monday.