NORFOLK, VA.(November 11) -- Senior center Skipper Youngblood (Gastonia, NC) scored 23 points with nine rebounds, and junior guard Michael Williams (Thomasville, Ga.)added 22 points to help lead the Monarchs to a 80-79 exhibition win over Court Authority Thursday night.

Down by as many as seven in the second half, the Monarchs rallied and took their first lead, 50-49 (13:40) left on a layup by Freddie Bryant (Watson, La.). With the game tied at 68 with 4:35 left, Pierre Green hit a jumper to put the Monarchs up for good at 70-68 with 3:34 left.

Junior forward Clifton Jones (Pleasantville, NJ.) hit four free throws and Pierre Greene (Chicago, ILL.)added two more in the final 55 seconds to ice the win. Greene finished with 12 points and three steals. Freshman Rasheed Wright (Greensboro, NC.) came up with a game high four steals, while Jones hauled in eight rebounds with two assists, two blocks and two steals.

Court Authority was led by Phil Stinnie with 29 points and nine rebounds. The Monarchs hit .531 of their shots from the field and forced Court Authority into 22 turnovers. Old Dominion committed only two turnovers in the second half.

The Monarchs open the regular season on Saturday, Nov.20 against UT Chattanooga in a 2 p.m. contest in the ODU fieldhouse.