SPORTS: Breaking News: ODU throttles Towson, 86-56

Taylor Howsmon
Sports Editor

RICHMOND-Senior Gerald Lee scored 17 points and junior Frank Hassell added a double-double (11 points and 11 rebounds) as top-seeded Old Dominion thrashed eighth-seeded Towson, 86-56.
After the upstart Tigers stuck around for the opening nine minutes of the contest, the Monarchs used a 26-11 scoring run and a 26-8 first-half rebounding advantage to pull away from the Tigers and take a 39-21 lead into the break.
In the second half, the Monarchs continued the romp by again slaughtering the Tigers on the boards and knocking in their many second chance opportunities.
ODU opened the second stanza on a 14-5 run, and for all intents and purposes put the game away at the 16:54 mark.
The Monarchs would go on to run away with it, 86-56.
Not only was the offensive contribution great from Lee and Hassell but the Monarchs also got it from just about everywhere else as all 11 players they dressed scored in the game.
Keyon Carter scored 16 off the bench and Marsharee Neely, also a non starter, poured in 11. ODU outscored Towson 41-0 in bench points.
Josh Thornton scored 18 in his final game as a collegiate players and Robert Nwankwo scored 13 for Towson.
ODU advances to play the winner of the 4/5 game at approximately 2:30 as VCU (no. 5) takes on no. 4 George Mason.