Men's Basketball Hosts Louisiana and Georgia State This Week

ODU (6-19, 2-10 Sun Belt) vs. Louisiana (16-9, 8-4 Sun Belt) | vs Georgia State (11-13, 5-7 Sun Belt)
WHEN: Thursday, Feb. 15 – 7:00 p.m. | Saturday, Feb. 17 – 7:00 p.m.
WHERE: Chartway Arena (Norfolk, Va.)
LIVE STATS:  Louisiana | Georgia State
WATCH:  Louisiana | Georgia State
LISTEN – Priority Auto Sports Radio 94,1 FM
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NORFOLK, Va. – The Old Dominion men's basketball team returns to Sun Belt Conference action this week with a pair of home tilts inside Chartway Arena.
 
On Thursday, the Monarchs host Louisiana on Fraternity/Sorority night. Saturday night will see ODU will host Georgia State on Big Blue's Birthday Night with each game starting at 7:00 p.m.
 
Both games can be viewed on ESPN+ with Scott Jackson and Billy Mann on the call. Fans can also listen to Priority Auto Sports Radio 94.1FM with Ted Alexander and Dennis Wolff on the call at 6:30 p.m. both nights.
 
Old Dominion (6-19, 2-10) defeated Louisiana 70-66 on Dec. 31, 2022, in the first-ever meeting between the schools. Chaunce Jenkins scored 12 points coming off the bench in the game as ODU held off a frantic Louisiana comeback in the final minutes.
 
This will be the second meeting this season with Georgia State as the Panthers defeated ODU 77-70 on January 11. Tyrone Williams had 17 points and three steals, R.J. Blakney added 12 points on 4-of-4 from 3-point range, and Devin Ceaser scored 10 points. ODU holds a 19-7 lead in the all-time series.
 
ABOUT ODU
ODU dropped a heartbreaking 58-57 decision to Central Michigan on Saturday afternoon in the second part of the MAC-Sun Belt Challenge. In a game that saw 11 ties and 13 lead changes, Chaunce Jenkins scored 16 points, while Williams had 12 and eight rebounds with Blakney adding 12 and seven boards. Jason Wade matched his career high with a game-high 10 rebounds off the bench.
 
For the season, Jenkins leads the team in scoring at 16.0 points per game and a team-high 64 assists. Williams follows at 12.1 points and a team-high 5.8 rebounds and 37 steals, while Ceaser is at 8.7 points per game. R.J. Blakney is next at 8.1 ppg and second on the team with 4.2 rebounds per contest, while leading in blocked shots with 23.
 
As a team, the Monarchs are averaging 71.2 points per game and allowing 76.6. From the floor, the Monarchs are hitting 662-of-1561 (42.4%) from the field, 174-of-531 (32.8%) from 3-point range and 281-of-420 from the foul line (66.9%). The opposition is hitting 640-of-1463 from the field (43.7%), 227-of-640 from 3-point range (35.5%) and 407-of-573 (71.0%) from the line. ODU is being outrebounded 39.8 to 35.2 per game. The Monarchs average 11 turnovers per game and force 13.3 per contest.
 
ABOUT LOUISIANA
The Ragin' Cajuns have won eight of their last nine games, including an 86-60 victory over Bowling Green on Sunday in the second part of the MAC-Sun Belt Challenge. Themus Fulks paced five in double figures with 17 points, while Hosana Kitenge added a double-double of 16 points and 10 rebounds.
 
In their last conference matchup, Louisiana fell 78-69 to Georgia State at home on February 7. Kobe Julien had 28 points to lead Louisiana, while Joe Charles added a double-double of 15 points and 11 rebounds.
 
Julien leads four in double figures for Louisiana averaging 18.2 points per game and leads in free throws made (103), attempted (123) and percentage (.837), along with being second in three-pointers made (50). Charles is averaging 11.5 points and a team-best 9.7 rebounds per game. Kitenge is next at 11.3 points and second in rebounds at 6.0 per contest. Fulks rounds out the double-figure scorers at 11.3 points per game and has a team-best 107 assists.
 
As a team, Louisiana is averaging 77.6 points per game and allowing 70.8. From the floor, they're hitting 709-of-1522 (46.6%), 209-of-567 (36.9%) from 3-point range and 314-of-424 from the line (74.1%). Their opponents are hitting 627-of-1385 from the floor (45.3%), 115-of-440 from 3-point land (26.1%) and 400-of-563 (71%) from the line. On the boards, it is even at 34.1 per contest. They average 11.8 turnovers per game and force 15 per contest.
 
ABOUT GEORGIA STATE
The Panthers will play at James Madison on Thursday night before heading to Norfolk. They defeated Miami (Ohio) 73-53 on Saturday to finish off the MAC-Sun Belt Challenge as Toneari Lane had 17 points and Lucas Taylor added 15 to lead four in double figures.
 
In the win at Louisiana on February 7, Lane had 16 points and Leslie Nkereuwem added 15 as they rallied from a nine-point halftime deficit.
 
Lucas Taylor leads Georgia State in scoring averaging 14.5 points per game and is second on the team with 46 assists and 3-pointers made with 50. Lane follows averaging 13.2 points and has made a team-best 66 3-pointers. Dwon Odom averages 12.1 points, has a team best 105 assists and 15 blocked shots. Jay'Den Turner averages 10 points and a team-high 8.7 rebounds per game.
 
As a team, Georgia State averages 78.1 points per game and allows 74.3. The Panthers hit 682-of-1543 from the field (44.2%), 181-of-561 from 3-point land (32.3%) and lead the league at the foul line hitting 329-of-438 (75.1%). Their opponents are hitting 629-of-1484 from the field (42.4%), 161-of-566 from 3-point range (28.4%) and 364-of-524 (69.5%) from the line. Georgia State holds a slight rebounding edge 38.3 to 38.1 on its opponents. They lead the league in fewest turnovers per game averaging 9.5, while forcing 10.5 per game.
 
NEXT WEEK
The Monarchs will wrap up the home schedule next week hosting league leading App State on Thursday at 7:00 p.m. and then host Coastal Carolina for Senior Night on Saturday, Feb. 24 also at 7 p.m.