MIAMI -- Keenan Palmore scored 17 points and grabbed six rebounds while Old Dominion held Florida International to just 14 first half points en route to a 52-36 win Thursday night.

The Monarchs (8-9, 2-0 Conference USA) opened the game on a 14-4 run, then closed the half on a 21-3 spurt for a 29-14 halftime lead.

Dimitri Batten had 11 points and seven boards for Old Dominion, which shot just 37.3 percent from the field (19 of 51), but was 11 of 13 from the free throw line.

Tymell Murphy scored 20 points and had six steals to lead FIU (9-9, 1-2), Rakeem Buckles added seven points, but none of the remaining scorers had more than three points. FIU was just 13 of 42 from the field (31 percent) and 7 of 14 from the line while being out-rebounded 37-28.