Meno and 'Cats Streak to Six with 83-74 Win Over Ohio in ASU Classic
12/21/2006 10:01:15 AM | Men's Basketball
Recap | Box Score
TEMPE, Ariz. -- Boris Meno recorded his fourth career double-double with 17 points and 16 rebounds to lead the Davidson Wildcats to their sixth straight victory as they defeated Ohio University, 83-74, Thursday evening at Wells Fargo Arena to advance to the championship of the ASU Sleep America Classic. Enjoying its longest streak since the 2004-05 season, Davidson improves to 10-3 on the campaign. The Bobcats fall to 6-3 overall.
Meno, a junior from Paris, France, was one of four Wildcats to finish in double figures as he connected on 7-of-16 from the floor, including a pair of threes, in 36 minutes of action. Freshman guard Stephen Curry led Davidson in scoring for the seventh time this season with 19 points. Fellow backcourt mate Jason Richards added 18 with eight assists and drilled all 10 of his attempts from the charity stripe, while Thomas Sander pitched in 13 points.
For the second consecutive outing the Wildcats hit 14 treys, nine of which came in the first 20 minutes of action. Davidson only shot 39.1 percent (27-of-69) overall, but held Ohio to a season-low 37.1 percent (26-of-70). The Bobcats entered the contest shooting an even 50 percent in their first eight games. The Wildcats also made the most of their opportunities from the free throw line missing, just one of their 16 tries (.938).
Curry drained one of his four three-pointers on the night just 15 seconds into the contest. After another trey by Richards two minutes later, Ohio would never have a possession in which they could tie the score. The 'Cats extended the lead to as many as 13 on two occasions during the opening half before settling for an 11-point edge at the break, 42-31, after a driving layup by Richards with four seconds on the clock.
The lead remained at least five points for the first 11 minutes of the second stanza, despite the Wildcats not hitting one three-pointer after drilling nine in the first 20 minutes. But after the Bobcats' Bubba Walther canned a three to get Ohio within four, 59-55, Davidson found its stroke from downtown. Each of the Wildcats' next five scores came from behind the arc, including consecutive threes by Sander after Ohio twice cut the lead to two.
With 2:10 on the clock, Leon Williams laid in bucket to make the score 74-71. Richards remained cool in the final minutes, however, hitting all six of his free throw attempts to seal the victory.
Like Davidson, Ohio finished with four players in double digits, led by Jerome Tillman, who compiled a double-double of his own with 19 points and 12 rebounds. Walther and Whitney Davis each contributed 18, while Williams scored 12. Williams was the only player in the game to hit at least half his field goal attempts (5-of-6).
Behind Meno's game-high performance on the glass, Davidson held a decided advantage on the boards, 52-41.
The Wildcats have won all three meetings against Ohio, with the last game coming 41 years ago to the day. All-American and 13-year NBA veteran Dick Snyder, who was in attendance for tonight's contest, scored 46 points on 20-of-26 shooting for the Wildcats in the 96-63 victory on Dec. 21, 1965.
Davidson will play tournament host Arizona State tomorrow at 2 p.m. (MST) / 4 p.m. (EST) in the championship of the annual event. Ohio and North Carolina A&T will meet in the consolation game 30 minutes after the conclusion of the Davidson-ASU game.
