THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Tuesday, February 14, 1995 TAG: 9502140453
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C1 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY STEVE CARLSON, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: NORFOLK LENGTH: Medium: 77 lines
Monday's game at Scope featured a fast-breaking, high-scoring basketball team that fed off turnovers and ran its opponent into submission.
That team was Old Dominion, not the speed freaks of George Mason. George Mason went nowhere fast and was left choking on the Monarchs' exhaust in ODU's 94-70 victory.
The 94 points matched ODU's season high against Weber State in December. The Monarchs, who scored 91 Saturday against American, had back-to-back games in the 90s for the first time this season.
``This is the way we grew up playing and the way we play in the summertime when we go home and play on the playground - up and down, helter-skelter,'' ODU guard Mike Jones said.
The Monarchs improved to 15-10, 10-1 in the Colonial Athletic Association and have a 1 1/2-game lead over second-place James Madison.
Jones tossed in 26 points on 8-of-15 shooting, including 21 in the second half when he buried 5 of 7 3-pointers. The Monarchs led by eight at the half, but then turned the George Mason press - which forced 15 first-half turnovers - into a pushover.
ODU coach Jeff Capel said the Monarchs made an adjustment in their press offense in the second half that enabled Jones to get down the floor quicker to fill lanes or spot up.
``I wish I could have got some dunks,'' Jones said.
He didn't, but Petey Sessoms (24 points, 10 rebounds) more than filled that void with a baseline drive and resounding slam with 16:38 to play. That gave ODU a 10-point lead and got the Monarchs' momentum rolling.
Old Dominion built its lead to 20 points with 9:17 left, 31 with 3:44 to play.
It was about that time that ODU's assistants began to suggest to Capel that he start subbing.
Uh uh, Capel said.
``Against this team, the way they play, 4 minutes is forever,'' Capel said. ``No lead is big enough.''
This season may seem like forever to the Patriots (6-16, 1-9), who have lost 14 of their last 15. ODU was the one Monday playing its fifth game in 10 days, but it was the Patriots' whose legs appeared leaden.
``I was concerned at halftime whether we'd have enough energy to continue pressing and trapping and creating the turnovers and havoc,'' George Mason coach Paul Westhead said.
Once Capel finally went to his bench, the game's closing minutes contained drama the scoreboard did not provide.
Would Corey Parker score?
Parker, a junior forward, came into the game with career totals of 48 minutes played in 18 games and no points.
ODU's entire bench - save for the coaches - stood in anticipation when Parker entered the game with 3:23 to play. When he made a jumper with 2:13 to play, the Monarchs' bench erupted.
``It's a big monkey off his back,'' Jones said. ``I'm sure it will not be the last basket he'll score.''
Derrick Parker, Corey's brother, scored a career-high 10 points. Sessoms recorded his 11th double-double of the season, and moved ahead of Chris Gatling into fourth place on ODU's career scoring charts. The Monarchs' 16 steals was a season high.
Nate Langley led the Patriots with 20 points. ODU's zone defense held Curtis McCants to three points, 13 below his average.
ODU, winners of three in a row, gets a much-needed break before playing Saturday afternoon at UNC Wilmington. ILLUSTRATION: Richard l. Dunston/Staff
A halftime adjustment in the Monarchs' press offense enabled Mike
Jones to score 21 second-half points - 15 on 3-pointers. The
Monarchs had back-to-back games in the 90s for the first time this
year.
by CNB