NORFOLK It had been a week of 30-point leads, bulging box scores, and blow-out wins for Old Dominion. That changed Saturday night when the Monarchs, as expected, found themselves in a tightly contested game for the first time in this young season.

NEW ROCHELLE, N.Y. Scott Machado scored 20 points, including 11 in the final 5:49, as Iona remained undefeated with an 80-68 victory over Norfolk State on Saturday. Six of Machado's final 11 came from the free throw line, where the Gaels (3-0) were 23 for 37 to the Spartans' 13 for 28. Kyle Smith added 14 points for Iona, which got 13 from Mike McFadden and 10 from Keon Williams.

Chesapeake's Mike Scott had 15 points and 10 rebounds and Sylven Landesberg added 14 points to lead Virginia to a 76-55 win over Oral Roberts Saturday in the final states-side game of the Cancun Challenge. Scott, who played at Deep Creek High before attending Hargrave Military Academy, shot 6 of 12 from the field and hit 3 of 4 free throws.

His name might has well have been Trey-an, so clear were the expectations for Old Dominion guard Trian Iliadis. He was recruited to shoot, to provide the feathery-touched perimeter complement to the Monarchs' heavy lifting around the hoop. On a big, physical team with high aspirations it is an important role, and it is considered one of the keys to ODU's success this season.

LYNCHBURG Nearly four minutes into the second half Thursday night, Old Dominion's Keyon Carter was beating Liberty. By himself. When Carter made third 3-pointer in as many tries, he had scored the last of his team-high 17 points. Liberty had 14.

NORFOLK This is how it ended Tuesday night at the Constant Center: Old Dominion men's basketball coach Blaine Taylor got booed. With the last seconds ticking away and the Monarchs in possession of the ball, Taylor pulled the plug on ODU's offense just when it was about to rack up 100 points.

NORFOLK Brandon Wheeless spent the past three years in the U.S. Navy, some of it as a military policeman on the aircraft carrier Harry S. Truman in the Indian Ocean. He spent Monday night basking in the glory of a win on the hardwood.

NORFOLK They played Bethune-Cookman on Sunday, host Longwood tonight, travel to Liberty on Thursday and return home for Marshall on Saturday. Nothing like diving right into the season, and the Old Dominion men's basketball team is doing just that, with four games in seven days.

NORFOLK The first step of Kent Bazemore's second Old Dominion basketball season was a blur. The 6-foot-6 sophomore caught the ball on the wing, blew by a Bethune-Cookman defender, and scored. A short time later, he ripped the ball from Bethune's best player, guard C.J. Reed, steamed down the court, dribbled behind his back to avoid another Wildcat, and laid the ball in again.

NORFOLK Michael Deloach might not be at full speed yet, but he's darn close. And that gives the Norfolk State Spartans a fighting chance as they host the Maine Black Bears at 7 tonight in NSU's only home game this month.