NORFOLK, Va. (COURTESY OF ODU ATHLETICS) – The Old Dominion men’s basketball team appears to be gaining momentum at the right time.
Norfolk native Jordan Battle scored 27 points in his final home game for ODU, and the Monarchs pulled away in the final minutes to defeat Louisiana, 83-72, Monday at Chartway Arena.
The victory was the third in the last four games for ODU (9-18 overall, 6-9 Sun Belt), with the loss a 2-point defeat to Marshall, one of the Sun Belt’s best teams. It is the best four-game stretch for ODU this season, and comes with less than two weeks to go in the regular season.
Louisiana (10-18, 6-8) had won four of its last five.
“We’re getting better,” ODU head coach Mike Jones said. “And we’re nowhere near our peak. As long as we’re getting better, with the talent we have, with the veterans we have, we’re going to have a shot here.
“We’ve been playing beautiful, beautiful basketball. We’ve had 36 assists the last two games and 20 turnovers. I’m just so proud of the progress we’re making, and we’re making it at the right time.”
A graduate of Norfolk Collegiate who transferred from Coastal Carolina to play his senior season at ODU, Battle bested his previous ODU career-high of 25 points. He made 7-of-10 shots, 10-of-11 from the free throw line, had eight rebounds and added three assists.
All but two of ODU’s 83 points came from the five starters. ODU was outrebounded, 35-29, but dominated inside where it counted most – the Monarchs outscored Louisiana 44-28 in the paint.
KC Shaw added 16 points and Caelum Swanton-Rodger 15, Zacch Wiggins 12 and LJ Thomas 11.
The Monarchs conclude the regular-season with three road games – at Southern Miss this Saturday, at Marshall Feb. 24 and at Georgia State Feb. 27.
They then head to the Sun Belt Conference Tournament, held March 3-9 in Pensacola, Florida.
Battle said the Monarchs intend to move up several slots in the Sun Belt standings before heading to Florida.
“I feel like we’re finally beginning to find ourselves,” he said. And he said Swanton-Rodger has a lot to do with that.
Swanton-Rodger has gained confidence and has become more aggressive as of late. He had four dunks, and drove the lane late in the first half to power in a layup over two players.
“Cal is really starting to step up,” Battle said. “He’s been good all year, but the last three or four games, he’s taken a big step up and is just taking the initiative to be the biggest guy on the court, to be that physical presence.”
The Monarchs got off to a slow start and trailed, 17-8, with 13:33 left in the first half.
But then they caught fire. On a run begun by a Swanton-Rodger dunk, the Monarchs outscored the Regin Cajuns, 18-4, over the next five minutes to take a 26-21 lead on two free throws by Shaw.
Karris Bilal made two free throws with 26 seconds left to pull Louisiana within one, 34-33, at the half.
ODU and Louisiana traded baskets the first eight minutes of the second half and Jaxon Olvera gave the Ragin Cajuns their last lead, 51-50, with 11:50 left.
Battle then made a layup to give ODU the lead for good, 52-51, although the game would remain in doubt until the final minutes.
ODU led 59-57 with six minutes left when the Monarchs made a critical 6-0 run. Shaw made a short jump shot, Battle two free throws and Shaw a long jumper as ODU led, 65-57 with 7:32 left.
Louisiana trimmed the lead to five twice in the final minutes but could get no closer as the Monarchs made all eight free throws they took in the final 43 seconds.
Battle said scoring 27 points, and winning a big game, was a great way to go out in his final home game in Norfolk.
“That’s everything any kid from the 757 would dream of,” he said. “I’m a senior and got to play in front of my family. It will be the last time they really get to see me play.”
“I had a good game, yes, but the most important thing is that we won.”
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