Monarchs fall to .500 as rally comes up short vs. Winthrop

ROCK HILL, S.C.

The Old English phrase, "six of one, a half dozen of the other" applies to the Old Dominion men's basketball team.

After falling 62-59 Friday night to Winthrop, the Monarchs head into the Christmas season with a 6-6 record, marking the first time since 2003-04 that ODU is no better than .500 at this juncture.

The similarities don't stop there. That 2003-04 squad had nine sophomores or freshmen. This year's squad has eight.

And that squad four years ago had a young point guard learning the nuances of the college game, taking his lumps, having sequences of brilliance and moments of despair.

Four years ago it was Drew Williamson, who was the last recruit ODU signed in that class. Williamson turned out to be pretty good, earning all-conference honors and leaving ranked seventh all-time in assists at ODU.

At present, it's Darius James, who was the final recruit signed last spring. There were those who thought the slightly built 6-footer might eventually be a double-figure scorer once he gained weight and physical maturity.

The question now: Why not the present?

For the second consecutive game, James notched his career high. After his 12 points in a loss at Richmond on Wednesday, he was in the starting lineup this time and tallied a game-high 19 points to lead a spirited rally that just fell short.

"Eerie, isn't it?" ODU coach Blaine Taylor said. "We were skulking around with that last scholarship when we got Drew. We were skulking around with that last scholarship when we decided on Darius. Blind luck, I guess."

Winthrop coach Randy Peele said he tried to get in on the recruitment of James at the very end. Winthrop (6-5) lost a player when De'Andre Adams was killed in a car accident last May.

Peele called ODU assistant coach Jim Corrigan asking about James.

"Jimmy said he thought they were going to get him," Peele said. "Darn fine player, wouldn't you say?"

With fifth-year seniors Brian Henderson and Abdi Lidonde mired in horrid shooting slumps - they are a combined 4 for 27 from the field in the last two games - someone had to put the ball through the basket for the Monarchs.

In the interview room, James answered questions with such an acerbic approach that teammate Brandon Johnson finally said, "Darius just doesn't like to lose. He brings competitiveness and heart and there are others right now who aren't producing. Darius is producing."

James, who starred at Virginia Beach's Tallwood High, was 5 of 7 from the field, 4 of 6 from beyond the arc, and 5 of 6 from the line in 26 minutes.

"It's the same game I've played since I was a little kid," James said. "I don't see why everyone wants to make such a big deal about going from high school to college ball."

ODU shot 34 percent as a team and got little production from the post.

"We've got to do better things with the ball when we get it in there," Taylor said. "We're young. There are things we can fix."

Johnson finished with 14 points, sophomore forward Gerald Lee had 10 points and Jonathan Adams had nine.

No other Monarch had more than four points.

Still, ODU had an outside shot at winning a game they once trailed 51-36. James hit a 3-pointer with 1:43 remaining to cut the lead by Winthrop to 59-54. The Monarchs came up with a defensive stop and Adams buried a 3-pointer, cutting the margin to 59-57.

The dagger play came when Winthrop's Taj McCullough, who finished with a team-high 14 points, scored on an alley-oop dunk with 45 seconds remaining for a four-point cushion.

The Monarchs will take four days off, then return to practice to prepare for a trip to UAB on Dec. 29.

"Our inexperience is still evident," Taylor said. "We have to learn how to perform on the road and improve our consistency of play. You live and learn."

Rich Radford, 446-2463 or rich.radford@pilotonline.com