THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Saturday, February 24, 1996 TAG: 9602240455
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C7 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY STEVE CARLSON, STAFF WRITER
LENGTH: Short : 47 lines
Judging from the won-loss column, Old Dominion should be breezing along in the Colonial Athletic Association.
But lately, nothing has been a breeze for the Monarchs (16-11 overall, 11-3 CAA), who visit American today at 2 p.m.
ODU has won four in a row and eight of 10. But many recent wins have been narrow escapes in which the Monarchs overcame big deficits, or had a seemingly comfortable lead only to squander it.
``We like to keep it exciting, like to keep people in their seats, don't want anybody leaving early,'' coach Jeff Capel said Wednesday after the Monarchs let an 18-point lead dwindle to one before beating William and Mary 91-86.
Old Dominion navigated through the first half of the CAA season with a 6-2 record, with the wins coming by an average of 13.7 points. Only one victory was by less than double digits.
With two games to play, ODU has won five of six in the second half of league play, but the five wins were by an average of 3.6 points.
The most comfortable margin of victory in the second half of the conference season was seven points over Richmond.
POAG HOT: Freshman small forward Mark Poag is closing the season strong.
Poag has been in double figures in 10 of his last 12 games and averages 19.3 points in his last four outings.
He scored 27 against William and Mary, 26 the game before that against Richmond.
``In high school I always came on strong at the end of the year and played my best,'' Poag said. ``That's when it's important to be playing your best.''
Poag's 74 3-pointers shattered the ODU freshman record of 23 by Keith Jackson.
The ODU season record is 94 by Anthony Carver.
BASSETTE OUT: ODU freshman Reggie Bassette will not play today at American.
Bassette is serving a one-game violation for a violation of an unspecified team rule. by CNB