THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Thursday, August 18, 1994 TAG: 9408180677
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C1 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY STEVE CARLSON, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: DIJON, FRANCE LENGTH: Medium: 72 lines
Old Dominion is on the cusp of going 0-for-France after dropping its fourth game in five days Wednesday to Dijon, 88-85.
``I think we've played three great games against very good competition,'' Monarchs coach Jeff Capel said. ``We need to win one. I want them to leave here with a good feeling.''
Despite the 0-4 mark against teams from France's top pro league, Capel has praised ODU's play in the last three games of the foreign tour. The Monarchs have been in all three at the end and have adapted fairly well to the league's ridiculously rugged style.
Most of all, the Monarchs have battled despite consistently playing from behind and not getting much help from the officials. In four games ODU has been called for 20 more fouls than its opponents and has shot 27 fewer free throws.
``I'm as proud of you guys as I am of any team I've ever coached in 17 years because you guys don't quit,'' Capel told the Monarchs after the game. ``That will pay off for you down the road.''
Petey Sessoms led the Monarchs in scoring for the third time on the trip with 22 points on 7-of-11 shooting with five 3-pointers. He also had team highs in rebounds (nine) and steals (four). Mike Jones had 19 points, and last year's leading scorer, Odell Hodge, who struggled in the first three games, finally broke out with 16 points and seven rebounds.
``I've not been playing up to my potential on this trip so far,'' said Hodge, who missed two key free throws with 11 seconds left. ``That was my chance to help this team win or go into overtime, and it didn't happen.''
ODU had another chance to tie after Dijon made one of two free throws for a three-point lead with 7.9 seconds left. But when the ball went through the net, the clock started prematurely and ODU lost about four vital seconds. Corey Robinson's 30-footer at the buzzer bounced off the rim.
``Their coach told me, `I'm sorry, it was an error, we will work to correct it,' Capel said.
ODU assistant Bobby Collins said Dijon's Skeeter Henry was more direct: ``Yeah, we cheated,'' Henry told Collins.
Appropriately, a team named Dijon - like the mustard - had some hot dogs. Henry was chief among them. He talked trash to the ODU bench and the players on the floor.
The former Oklahoma player, who had a brief stint with the Phoenix Suns, was also the most athletic player on the floor and scored 19 points. Ian Lockhart, who played at Tennessee, scored 22 for Dijon.
Old Dominion goes on to Paris today for two days of sightseeing, then plays a final game Saturday in Gravelines, near the English Channel, before returning to Norfolk Monday.
OLD DOMINION: Sessoms 7-11 5-5 22, Harvey 1-5 1-2 3, Sherod 1-2 0-0 2, Robinson 1-5 2-2 4, Johnson 2-7 0-0 5, Mullen 3-7 1-2 7, Hodge 5-10 6-11 16, Jones 5-11 6-6 19, Parker 2-3 1-2 5. Totals 27-62 22-30 85.
DIJON: Lecerf 0-1 0-0 0, Lockhart 6-9 10-12 22, Truvillion 6-11 1-2 15, Henry 6-10 4-8 19, Percevault 2-2 0-0 4, Julian 0-1 2-2 2, Davis 3-7 1-2 8, Laure 1-1 1-2 3, Lopez 0-0 2-2 2, Nelma 5-9 3-8 13. Totals 29-51 24-38 88.
Halftime: Dijon 48-44. 3-point goals: Old Dominion 9-20 (Sessoms 5-9, Jones 3-6, Johnson 1-3, Robinson 0-2); Dijon 6-13 (Henry 3-8, Truvillion 2-2, Davis 1-1, Julian 0-1, Lecerf 0-1). Rebounds: Old Dominion 34 (Sessoms 9), Dijon 22 (Nelma 7). Assists: Old Dominion 15 (Sherod, Robinson 4), Dijon 16 (Truvillion 5). Total fouls: Old Dominion 26, Dijon 19. Fouled out: Sessoms, Lockhart. A: 3,500. ILLUSTRATION: Color map
Area shown: France
by CNB