Old Dominion (0-0) vs. Western Michigan (0-0)
Game Info – Monday, Nov. 2 at 7 p.m.
Location – Chartway Arena (Norfolk, Va.)
Watch – ESPN+
Listen – ESPN Sports Radio 94.1
Live Stats – Click Here
Tickets – Click Here
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NORFOLK, Va. – Old Dominion men’s basketball begins its 2026-27 season on Monday night when the Monarchs host Western Michigan in the first round of the MAC-Sun Belt Challenge. Tipoff at Chartway Arena is scheduled for 7 p.m.
Monday’s game will be streamed on ESPN+ with Scott Jackson and Billy Mann on the call, and fans can also tune into ESPN Sports Radio 94.1 to hear Ted Alexander and Dennis Wolff covering the game. Live stats will also be available.
Series History
Monday night will mark the first-ever meeting between the two programs.
About ODU
The Monarchs hosted exhibitions against VCU on Oct. 17 and against Virginia State on Oct. 24. ODU trailed VCU, 41-23 at halftime and pulled to within six, 54-48 with less than seven minutes to play, but the Rams held on for a 71-57 final. Bubu Benjamin led the Silver and Blue with 14 points, Zamoku Weluche-Ume netted 13 points with five rebounds, and Zacch Wiggins finished with 12 points and five boards. In the exhibition versus Virginia State, the Monarchs built a 41-23 halftime lead and cruised to a 75-48 win over the Trojans. Wiggins paced the ODU offense with 21 points while shooting 9-for-10 from the field and 3-for-3 from distance. Adante’ Holiman followed with 12 points, and CJ Harper was next with 10 points.
ODU was picked to finish 11th in the Sun Belt Conference Preseason Coaches’ Poll, released by the league on Oct. 19. Holiman represented the Monarchs on the Preseason All-Sun Belt First Team. A fourth-year guard from McAlester, Oklahoma, he transferred to ODU from Arizona State and earned All-Sun Belt Third Team honors two seasons ago at Georgia Southern. Holiman was also named to Blue Ribbon Magazine’s Preseason All-Sun Belt Team as well as Lindy’s Sports Magazine’s Preseason All-Sun Belt Second Team.
ODU head coach Mike Jones has six returners this season and 11 newcomers. Returning for the Monarchs are guards Wiggins, Scottie Hubbard, Rieco Hellams, and CJ Parker as well as forwards Jared Turner and Ben Nacey. In addition to Holiman, the other newcomers in the backcourt include transfers Khoi Thurmon (Oakland) and Bubu Benjamin (George Washington) as well as first years Harper, Theo Gerges, CJ Lyons, and Noah Eddy. Joining Turner and Nacey in the frontcourt are transfers Jotham Nweke (Wayne State), Weluche-Ume (North Carolina A&T), Kylan Howze (Louisiana Tech), and Lucio Martini (University of Bologna).
Coach Jones enters his third season and has compiled a 27-41 record through his first two seasons in Norfolk. Joining his staff this season are assistant coaches Orlando Vandross and Jim Molinari. ODU ended up 255th in the last season’s final NET rankings and is 1-5 in the MAC-Sun Belt Challenge. Four of the team’s losses in the challenge have been by single digits, with two of them by one point. The Monarchs dropped last year’s season opener, 87-72 at Miami (Ohio) on Nov. 3, but secured their first win in the challenge with a 78-72 victory over Ohio on Feb. 7 in Norfolk.
About Western Michigan
The Broncos finished 10-21 overall and 4-14 in the MAC last season. Western Michigan announced the hiring of Kahil Fennell as the program’s new head coach in late March. He spent the previous two seasons at UTRGV and rounded out his staff with assistant coaches Dustin Yoder, Bobby Horodyski, Cam Clark, and Michael Provenzano.
Coach Fennell built a 2026-27 Broncos roster that features 10 transfers and four true freshmen. Following Fennell from UTRGV are guards Jaylen Washington and Julien Gomez. The team’s other incoming transfers include guards Mason Bendinger (USC Upstate), Ramere Draper (Claflin), and Rob Lee Jr. (Lamar); guard/forwards Tanner Hayhurst (Southern Utah) and Adam Harakow (Wyoming); forwards Joshua Eli (Army), Isaac Finlinson (Hawaii), and Augustinas Kiudulas (Colorado State). The Broncos’ four freshmen consist of guards Ben Johnson and Jordan Sigmon, forward DeAaron Watkins, and center Janis Jünemann.
The program is one of six Division I teams without any returners from last season, joining Campbell, Kansas City, Mississippi Valley State, Northern Illinois, and Rider.
WMU was picked to finish eighth in the MAC’s Preseason Poll, with Miami (Ohio) selected as the favorites to win the league. The Broncos were listed 283rd in last season’s final NET rankings and are also 1-5 through the first three seasons of the MAC-Sun Belt Challenge. They defeated Coastal Carolina, 76-71 on Nov. 3, 2025 in Kalamazoo, Michigan, but fell 77-61 at Texas State on Feb. 7 in San Marcos, Texas.
Up Next
The Monarchs are back on their home court this Wednesday when they host Division III Regent University for a 7 p.m. game at Chartway Arena.
SEASON SPONSOR
Bon Secours is the Presenting Sponsor of Old Dominion University’s 2026-27 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: Secure your seat for all 19 home games, including the exhibition against VCU, starting at $226. Purchase 2026-27 men's basketball season tickets or reach out to Jackson Daley at 757-683-6156 for all you season ticket needs.
Women's Basketball: Enjoy every moment of Monarchs basketball with access to all 16 home games for $147. Purchase 2026-27 women's basketball season tickets or reach out to Jackson Daley at 757-683-6156 for all you season ticket needs.
Single-Game Tickets: Mark your calendar. Single-game tickets go on sale October 8, with a presale for season ticket holders and ODAF members beginning October 1.
Groups: Bringing a group? Connect our ticketing team to find your perfect game day experience. Contact ODU Ticket Rep, Ethan Truesdale-Hales at (757) 683-5444 or etruesda@odu.edu.