BOSTON (AP) -- Richard Ross scored a season-high 17 points to
lead five Old Dominion players in double figures as the
last-place Monarchs bid farewell to the Colonial Athletic
Association by knocking off regular-season champion Northeastern
81-74 Saturday.



Old Dominion (5-25, 3-15), which joins Conference USA next
season, led by 25 with 11:30 left. After the Huskies (19-11,
14-4) trimmed the deficit to 78-74 with 19 seconds remaining,
Dmitri Batten saved the ball on an apparent Northeastern steal
and hit two free throws. Ross blocked a Jonathan Lee layup, then
Donte Hill hit 1 of 2 foul shots.



DeShawn Painter and Hill added 15 points apiece and Keenan
Palmore and Batten scored 13 each for the Monarchs, who finished
their 22-year CAA run with a 232-136 regular-season record
(.630) and a record six league titles.



Lee's season-high 26 points led the Huskies, who defeated Old
Dominion 79-74 in overtime on Feb. 9.