TOWSON, Md. - Less than two weeks ago, the Tigers (0-18, 0-6 CAA) faced the Old Dominion Monarchs at the Ted Constant Convocation Center (10-8, 5-1) and dropped a 75-38 decision. On Wednesday night at 7 p.m., the Tigers will look to avenge that loss when they host the defending CAA champions in the Towson Center.
While it has the looks of a mismatch on paper, things don't always go the same in the second game of a two-game series. Last season, Towson lost its first game against the Monarchs at home, 51-47, and then, the Tigers lost by 80-57 three weeks later in Norfolk.
The Monarchs have dominated the Tigers in this series, winning 26 of 27 previous encounters. When Old Dominion defeated the Tigers on Jan. 7, it started a three-game winning streak as the Monarchs downed Delaware on the road, 68-66 in overtime, and beat Hofstra at home, 69-61.
Before their most recent winning streak, the Monarchs have been on a bit of a roller coaster this season. They won three straight games at one point this year but they also had a three-game losing streak.
Old Dominion opened the season with three straight home games, defeating Long Island and Howard but losing to Northern Iowa (63-46). The Monarchs followed their homestand with a win over South Florida in the Hall of Fame Tournament in Uncasville, Conn., 68-66.
After a 10-point loss to Kentucky the following day, the Monarchs came back home and lost to Vermont in overtime, 65-55. On Nov. 29, they bounced back to defeat East Carolina by five.
On Dec. 3, the Monarchs opened CAA play with a 63-59 home win over Northeastern, but that was followed by three straight eight-point losses at Fairfield and Central Florida and against Richmond at home in overtime.
The Monarchs were back at home on Dec. 22 and defeated VMI, 81-73. On Dec. 30, they lost to Missouri at home, 75-68. They earned their second CAA win of the season on Jan. 2, defeating James Madison on the road in overtime, 67-61. They returned home on Jan. 5 and lost to George Mason, 63-54.
The Monarchs average 64.4 points per game while shooting 39.4% from the field (their opponents shoot 42% from the field). They also shoot 30% from three-point range (34% for their opponents).
As usual, ODU is a strong rebounding team, outrebounding its opponents by a 5.3 margin. The Monarchs also force 16.4 turnovers per game while committing 14.4 giveaways per game.
The key for Towson is trying to break the relentless pressure that Coach Blaine Taylor's Monarchs will throw on the Tigers. They forced Towson into 22 turnovers in the opener and socred a staggering 37 of their 75 points off turnovers. They also had 18 fastbreak points while Towson had zero.
The star of the Monarchs is their only returning starter - senior guard Kent Bazemore (6-5, 195), who earned first team Preseason All-CAA honors. Bazemore leads the team in scoring with a 14.6 average while shooting 39% from the floor and 69% from the free throw line. He also averages 5.3 rebounds per game and is second in the CAA with 2.4 blocks per game. He also leads the team with 57 assists and 55 turnovers. The offense goes through Bazemore, who had 14 points and five assists against the Tigers.
Senior Marquel De Lancey (6-0, 190) has been known as a stout defender who doesn't shoot very often in his first three seasons. He averages 4.6 points and 2.3 assists per game while shooting 35% from the field and 21% (3-14) from beyond the arc.
Sophomore Donte Hill (6-4, 205) is a transfer from Clemson, who became eligible in the second semester. He's the first transfer to play for Coach Taylor in his 10 seasons at ODU. Hill averages 7.0 points and 3.7 rebounds in nine games, which includes seven starts. He shoots 37% from the field and 30% (7-23) from beyond the arc. He is another big and physical wing player who can defend.
Up front, the Monarchs are not as big as they have been in the past but they are quicker and more athletic. Junior NIck Wright (6-8, 208) averages 7.7 points and 4.9 rebounds per game in 27.4 minutes per game, while shooting 34% from the field; he also has 16 blocks.
Redshirt freshman Richard Ross (6-7, 205) has started in seven of his nine games, averaging 5.7 points and 4.7 rebounds per outing while shooting 54% from the field. The Wichita Falls, Texas native once jumped 6-10 in high school.
The Monarchs have a lot of depth in the backcourt and frontcourt. Senior guard Trian Illiadis (6-3, 185) is a streaky shooter who averages 8.3 points per game and shoots 25% (21-83) from beyond the arc and 36% from the field. He also shoots just 58% from the foul line and if the Monarchs have any significant weakness, it's their team foul shooting (60.9%).
Freshman guard Dimitri Batten (6-3, 190) has started 8 of 18 games this season and averages 7.8 points and 2.6 rebounds per game while shooting 43% from the field and 40% (21-53) from beyond the arc.
Even though he has only started 11 of 18 games, senior Chris Cooper (6-9, 230) is the team's top frontcourt performer. Cooper is second on the team in scoring with a 10.7 average and is third in the CAA in rebounds with a 10.2 average. He shoots 44% from the field and leads the team with 19 blocks.
Wednesday night's game will air on WNST-AM 1570 with Spiro Morekas and Vince Angotti on the call. In addition, there will be an in-game blog on TowsonTigers.com.
