Old Dominion (4-11, 1-2 Sun Belt) vs. Georgia Southern (11-5, 3-0 Sun Belt)
Game Info – Saturday, Jan. 3 – 3:30 p.m.
Location – Chartway Arena (Norfolk, Va.)
Watch – ESPN+
Listen – ESPN Sports Radio 94.1 FM
Live Stats – Click Here
Social Media – Twitter | Facebook | Instagram
NORFOLK, Va. – Old Dominion men’s basketball opens the New Year at home against Georgia Southern this Saturday. The game is scheduled for a 3:30 p.m. start following the conclusion of the ODU women’s basketball game versus Georgia State at 1 p.m.
Fans can watch the action on ESPN+ with Scott Jackson and Billy Mann on the call, or they can tune into ESPN Sports Radio 94.1 FM to hear Ted Alexander and Dennis Wolff. Live stats will also be available.
Series History
Saturday marks the 25th meeting between the two programs, with ODU ahead in the all-time series, 16-8. Georgia Southern has won four straight against Old Dominion, though the Monarchs are 8-3 when playing the Eagles at home. Last season saw the Monarchs fall 67-63 to the Eagles on Jan. 18 in Norfolk, then 78-75 on Feb. 15 in Statesboro, Georgia. Robert Davis Jr. led ODU in the first game with 20 points while Sean Durugordon scored 24 to lead the team in the second.
About ODU
The Monarchs (4-11, 1-2 Sun Belt) could not overcome another slow start as they fell 81-73 to App State on Wednesday afternoon at Chartway Arena. Robert Davis Jr. and Jared Turner combined for four three-pointers late to cut the deficit to 77-68, but the visitors shot 4-for-4 at the free-throw line to hold on. Jordan Battle led ODU in the loss with 20 points, six rebounds, four assists and two steals.
ODU’s offense is paced by KC Shaw (15.7 ppg), Battle (13.7 ppg), and LJ Thomas (11.6 ppg). Battle and Davis Jr. have made 28 three-pointers each, with Davis Jr. currently ranked fifth in the Sun Belt with 93 three-point attempts. Battle is the team’s top shooter at the free-throw line and ranks fourth in the league in both free-throw shooting (86.3%) and free throws made (69). He’s also dished out a team-high 42 assists, though Thomas isn’t far behind him with 38.
On the glass, Battle has pulled down 81 rebounds and averages 5.4 rpg. Caelum Swanton-Rodger (7.3 ppg) is next with 72 boards (4.8 rpg) and leads the Monarchs with 19 blocks. Battle and Thomas have grabbed 21 and 13 steals, respectively.
The Monarchs score 73.1 ppg, but are allowing 77.1 ppg for a -4.1 scoring margin. ODU is shooting 42.9% from the field, including 33.1% from beyond the arc, and ranks fifth in the SBC in free-throw shooting (73.4%). Old Dominion is also fourth in three-point percentage defense (31.2%).
Through games played on Jan. 1, the Monarchs are 263rd in the NET rankings.
About Georgia Southern
The Eagles (11-5, 3-0 Sun Belt) have the longest active winning streak in the conference at eight games. GS played at Coastal Carolina on Thursday and came away with an 82-81 overtime victory. Tied at 81-81, Spudd Webb was fouled with two seconds left and went 1-for-2 at the line. He led the Eagles with 22 points, Tyren Moore contributed 21 points, and Alden Applewhite finished with 14.
Webb is the Sun Belt scoring leader with 268 points (16.8 ppg) and has been named the Sun Belt Player of the Week twice this season (Nov. 18 and Dec. 9). A graduate student from Hartwell, Georgia, he also leads the SBC with 31 steals and ranks second in made free throws (77) and third in both free-throw attempts (96) and steals per game (1.94). Moore (12.9 ppg) is the conference leader in threes made (42) and three-point attempts (114), ranks second in three-point shooting (36.8%), and is third in threes per game (2.63). Also scoring in double figures are Applewhite (12.6 ppg) and Nakavieon White (10.9 ppg).
Applewhite is the top rebounder with 91 boards and 6.1 rpg. The Memphis, Tennessee native ranks third in the Sun Belt with four double-doubles this season. Webb owns a team-high 38 assists, and Shainen Carter enters Saturday’s game ranked third in the Sun Belt with 25 blocks and 1.56 blocks per game.
GS has outscored its opponents by an average of 4.9 points, netting 83.9 ppg against 78.9 ppg allowed. The team is shooting a combined 44.0% from the floor, 33.0% from distance, and 72.6% at the line. The Eagles are first in the conference in three-point attempts per game (29.4), free throw attempts per game (25.8), free throws made per game (18.7), and turnover margin (4.3). They’re also second in scoring offense, turnovers forced per game (14.81), and bench points per game (30.88) and rank third in threes per game (9.7) and steals per game (8.6).
Georgia Southern was picked to finish 10th in the Sun Belt Preseason Coaches’ Poll and is led by third-year head coach Charlie Henry. Moore was named to the Preseason All-Sun Belt First Team and White landed on the Third Team. GS went 17-16 overall and 8-10 in the Sun Belt last season. This year’s squad features just two returners with 13 newcomers.
The Eagles currently sit at 215th in the NET rankings and are receiving votes in the CollegeInsider.com Mid-Major Top 25 Poll.
Up Next
The Monarchs open up a four-game road stretch with a trip to Conway, S.C. to play at Coastal Carolina on Thursday, Jan. 8 at 7 p.m.
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!