Old Dominion (3-8, 0-0 Sun Belt) vs. James Madison (7-4, 0-0 Sun Belt)
Game Info – Wednesday, Dec. 17 – 8 p.m.
Location – Chartway Arena (Norfolk, Va.)
Watch – ESPN+
Listen – Fox Sports Radio 1310 AM
Live Stats – Click Here
Social Media – Twitter | Facebook | Instagram
NORFOLK, Va. – Old Dominion men’s basketball returns to Chartway Arena for its Sun Belt Conference opener versus James Madison this Wednesday at Chartway Arena. Tipoff for the TowneBank Royal Rivalry game is scheduled for 8 p.m.
Scott Jackson and Billy Mann will cover the game on ESPN+, and fans can also hear Matt Hatfield and Dennis Wolff on Fox Sports Radio 1310 AM. Live stats will also be available.
Following the ODU’s women’s basketball Education Day game against Troy at 11 a.m., the Chartway ODU Bowl Game Watch Party will open at 4:30 p.m. to guests with a ticket to the men’s game.
Series History
Old Dominion is ahead in the all-time series 58-35, though James Madison has won the past nine meetings. The Monarchs hosted the Dukes on Jan. 22 last season, falling 74-60. Robert Davis Jr. led ODU in the loss with 23 points. The second meeting in Harrisonburg on Feb. 1 went to JMU, 68-54. Sean Durugordon paced ODU with 18 points.
About ODU
The Monarchs (3-8, 0-0 Sun Belt) wrapped up a five-game road swing with a 73-61 loss at George Mason last Saturday. ODU fought back from a 23-point first-half deficit and pulled even at 58-58 with 6:16 to play, but the Patriots pulled away with a 14-1 run. KC Shaw and Jordan Battle both scored 14 points and Caelum Swanton-Rodger finished with 13 points and nine rebounds.
Shaw is ODU’s top scorer at 14.6 ppg and is just two points away from reaching 1,000 for his career. Also averaging double digits are Battle with 12.9 ppg and LJ Thomas at 12.3 ppg. Davis Jr. (9.2 ppg), the Sun Belt Preseason Player of the Year, has made a team-high 22 threes. Battle has 18 makes from beyond the arc, and Jared Turner (5.4 ppg) is next with 17 made three-pointers. Thomas and Battle come into Wednesday’s game with 35 and 31 assists, respectively.
On the glass, Battle has grabbed 66 boards for 6.0 rpg while Swanton-Rodger owns 52 rebounds and 4.7 rpg. Battle is also the Monarchs’ leader in steals with 16, Thomas is up to 13 steals, and Swanton-Rodger has recorded 15 blocks.
Old Dominion scores 74.0 ppg, but has allowed 78.1 ppg. The Monarchs are shooting a combined 43.4% from the floor, including 32.6% from distance, and 73.9% at the line. The team is 241st in the latest NET rankings.
About James Madison
The Dukes (7-4) have won two in a row, defeating North Carolina Central 67-62 last Wednesday before earning a narrow 68-67 win over Norfolk State on Saturday. A late 13-3 run keyed the win over the Eagles, while Justin McBride scored a career-high 33 points to lead JMU past the Spartans.
JMU has three players averaging double figures: McBride leads the team with 17.3 ppg, Bradley Douglas is second with 13.5 ppg, and Cliff Davis is third at 11.8 ppg. Davis is the top threat from the perimeter and ranks third in the Sun Belt in three-pointers made (29), three-point attempts (85), three-point shooting percentage (34.1%), and three-pointers per game (2.64). Douglas owns a team-high 47 assists and is third in the league with a 2.35 assist-to-turnover ratio.
Eddie Ricks III (7.5 ppg) has pulled down 73 rebounds and averages 6.6 rpg. His 5.82 defensive rebounds per game rank second in the conference. Ricks and Davis have combined for 29 steals, while Christian Brown (3.4 ppg) is second in the SBC with 22 blocks and 2.0 blocks per game.
The Dukes score 75.1 ppg while holding opponents to 74.2 ppg for a +0.9-scoring margin. The team leads the Sun Belt in three-point shooting percentage (36.3%) and ranks third with 9.9 threes per game. JMU is also shooting 43.9% from the field and 71.8% at the free-throw line. James Madison ranks 25th nationally with 5.2 blocks per game, is second in the conference with a 1.34 assist-to-turnover ratio, and third in the Sun Belt with 14.4 assists per game.
JMU was picked as the preseason favorite to win the Sun Belt after capturing the league’s regular season title in 2024-25. The Dukes went 20-12 overall and 13-5 in conference play during head coach Preston Spradlin’s first season in Harrisonburg. Douglas earned a spot on the Preseason All-Sun Belt First Team. The team has two returners and 13 newcomers this season, to include 11 transfers and two freshmen. JMU is listed 202nd in the latest NET rankings.
Up Next
Old Dominion hosts Coastal Carolina this Saturday, Dec. 20 at 2 p.m. at Chartway Arena.
Season Sponsor
Bon Secours is the Presenting Sponsor of Old Dominion University’s 2025-26 Men’s Basketball Season. Bon Secours is proud to operate its four hospitals and medical centers in Hampton Roads and is even more proud to serve the surrounding community with exceptional care. It’s our mission at Bon Secours Hampton Roads to treat the whole person — mind, body and spirit, to bring compassion to health care, and to be good help to those in need. Bon Secours – the health care you deserve from a team you can trust.
SEASON TICKETS ON SALE
Men's Basketball Season Tickets: Secure your spot for all 14 of ODU’s home games this season for just $215.
Women's Basketball Season Tickets: Enjoy every moment of Monarchs basketball with season tickets for $120 (adults), which includes access to all 15 home games.
Discounted season ticket rates are available for ODU Faculty & Staff, ODU Letterwinners, Young Alumni, Band & Spirit Parents and Military. Call for more information.
Mini-Plans: Want flexibility? Choose a mini-plan! Get tickets to six men's games starting at $120 or six women's games for $60 ($10 per game!).
Single-Game Tickets: Mark your calendar—single-game tickets will be available starting October 14.
Call the ODU Ticket Office at 757-683-3375 or online at odusports.com/tickets to secure your seats today!