ODU (4-8) vs. VWU (8-2)
WHEN: Saturday, Dec. 28 - 4:00 p.m.
WHERE: Norfolk, Va. / Chartway Arena
LIVE STATS: Click Here!
WATCH: ESPN+
LISTEN - ESPN Radio 94.1
SOCIAL MEDIA - X, Facebook, Instagram
NORFOLK, Va. – The Old Dominion men’s basketball team (4-8) will host Virginia Wesleyan Marlins on Saturday, Dec. 28 at 4 p.m. The game is sponsored by Hilton Norfolk The Main.
The game will have live stats and will be streamed on ESPN+. Commentary will be provided by Scott Jackson and Billy Mann on the broadcast. Monarch fans can also tune in to Ted Alexander and Dennis Wolff, who will be on the call for ESPN Radio 94.1.
Old Dominion holds a 4-0 record in the all-time series dating back to the first matchup in 2020. Last time out, on November 6, 2023, ODU defeated VWU 71-57. The Monarchs had four players finish with double figures, notably Tyreek Scott-Grayson led the team with 15 points, three blocks, and nine made free throws. Omari DeVeaux led the Marlins with 18 points and three steals.
ABOUT ODU:
The Monarchs are coming off a win in the Sun Belt Conference opener. ODU defeated ULM in overtime 80-75, Robert Davis Jr. was named Sun Belt Conference Player of the Week after his 32 point performance.
Davis leads the team in scoring, averaging 14.5 ppg and is shooting .392 for deep with 40 made three pointers this season. He ranks 10th in the nation averaging 3.64 three pointers per game, 24th in total three point field goals (40), and is in the top 100 for three point percentage. Sean Durugordon is the team’s second leading scorer (12.4 ppg) and is the team’s second leading rebounder (6.6 rpg). The native of Harlem, New York, has been active on the glass, averaging 3.58 orpg, which ranks 14th in the NCAA. Stephaun Walker also ranks in the NCAA top 100 averaging 3.08 orpg while also being ODU’s leading glass cleaner with 7.9 rpg. Caelum Swanton-Rodger, a junior transfer from Maryland has been a deterrent in the paint swatting away 24 blocks this season which puts him 25th in the nation. Devin Ceaser has been a spark off the bench in the sixth man role averaging 11.5 ppg and has three games this season scoring over 20+ points. R.J. Blakney provides depth off the bench and is coming off a performance which saw him secure a career high 13 rebounds.
The Monarchs are shooting .404 from the field and average 68.9 ppg, the squad averages 6.3 three pointers per game. 5 steals per game, and 3.4 blocks per game. Old Dominion averages 11.1 assists per game and grab 38.7 rebounds per game. ODU has played in the largest attendance of all Sun Belt teams averaging 4,819 seats filled at each home game. The team is ranked first in the Sun Belt in offensive rebounds per game (14.5), and ranks third in offensive rebounding percentage (.356).
Mike Jones took over as head coach of the Monarchs from long-time coach Jeff Jones who moved into a mentor role for ODU at the end of the 2023 season. For just the second time in program history, Old Dominion University has hired an alumnus to coach the men's basketball team. Jones played for the Monarchs from 1991-95 and was a part of two tournament championship teams, he returned to ODU after spending this past season as an assistant coach at Maryland.
ABOUT VWU:
The Marlins are heading into the game against the Monarchs having last played 13 days ago. VWU secured a 61-58 win against Wisconsin-Whitewater in the North Beach Plastic Surgery Winter Classic. The team sits at an 8-2 record and has received votes for the D3hoops.com men's Top 25 ranking.
Khai Seargeant leads the Marlins in scoring (14.4 ppg) along with leading the team in free throws made (44). Amari Moorer is the team’s leading rebounder, averaging 8.0 per game and is the leading passer with 24 assists this season. VWU has eight players who average over 10 minutes per game.
Virginia Wesleyan as a team shoots .495 from the field, .353 from deep, and .690 from the stripe. They average 72.7 points per game while conceding opponents to only 57.6 points per game. Opponents of VWU have averaged .388 shooting from the field and .262 from deep. The Marlins have outrebounded their opponents by a margin of +44.
UP NEXT:
ODU will host Arkansas State in a Sun Belt Conference matchup at 7 p.m. on Jan. 2 before hosting Southern Miss on Jan. 4.
Season Tickets Available Now
Men's and women's basketball season tickets for the 2024-25 season are available now at odusports.com/basketball-season-tickets. Men's basketball season tickets cost $217 covering all of ODU’s regular season home contests. Women's basketball season tickets cost $115 for adults and include tickets to all of the Monarchs' home games. Discounted season ticket rates are available for ODU faculty and staff, ODU letterwinners, young alumni, band and spirit parents and military. Fans also have the option for mini-plans which consist of six men’s games for $84 and six women’s games for $42. Single-game tickets are now on sale. Call the ODU Ticket Office at 757-683-4444 for more information.