Owls Fight Back but Fall to Monarchs

Friday, November 17

Norfolk, Va.

7:00 PM

Florida Atlantic

Old Dominion

11/17/2006 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball

Nov. 17, 2006

Box Score

NORFOLK,VA -- After trailing 14-2 early, the Florida Atlantic University men's basketball team tied the game at 36 five minutes into the second half, but Old Dominion outlasted a shorthanded FAU squad, 70-55 at Ted Constant Convocation Center in Norfolk, VA on Friday.

"We're getting better," Head Coach Rex Walters said. "I'm proud of our team's effort tonight. ODU is a solid program and challenges for an NCAA Tournament bid every year."

Paul Graham once again led the Owls in scoring, dropping in 17 points on 6-of-15 shooting. Jeff Parmer added 11, including seven second-half points before fouling out with 36 seconds left.

"(Paul) has really taken a leadership role on offense," Walters said. "He's a very talented young man."

Arnaud Dahi led the way for ODU posting game highs in points (20) and rebounds (10). Valdas Vasylius added 15 points on 5-of-8 shooting.

ODU got seven points from Vasylius early to take a 14-2 lead at the 15:03 mark. The Owls would get within five thanks to a Graham layup at the 5:08 mark, 22-17, but a Vasylius jumper and a pair of free throws by Marsharee Neely pushed the lead back to nine, 26-17.

Another Graham layup with six seconds left in the first half made the score 31-24 at the break.

A Brent Crews three-point play on a layup and a foul shot cut the lead to four at 31-27, and a pair of free throws by Graham would tie the game at 36 with 14:35 remaining.

Aided by a Drew Williamson triple the Monarchs would go on a 9-0 run following the Graham free throws, and would lead the rest of the way.

A pair of made free throws by Parmer and a Graham layup cut the lead to 49-44 with 8:42 remaining, but the Owls would get no closer.

Old Dominion out-rebounded FAU 43-19, including a 14-5 edge in offensive rebounding. The Monarchs were 6-of-12 from behind the arc.

"Over the course of the game, you can't make that (kind of advantage) up," Walters said of the ODU rebounding edge.

Carlos Monroe led FAU in rebounds with six.

The Owls (0-3) head to Poughkeepsie, NY to face Marist on Sunday. The Red Foxes hold a 1-0 series advantage thanks to a win in Boca Raton last season.