BOONE, N.C. — In a game that was nearly a wire-to-wire masterclass followed by a white-knuckle nightmare, the Old Dominion Monarchs (6–14, 3–5 SBC) survived a furious second-half comeback to defeat Appalachian State 75–73 on Saturday afternoon.
The First Half: Absolute Dominance
For twenty minutes, ODU played perhaps their most complete basketball of the season. The Monarchs entered the locker room with a stunning 36–17 halftime lead, holding App State to just 17 points.
The defense was stifling, and the offense was firing on all cylinders. Jordan Battle set the tone early with a corner triple, and the Monarchs used a 6–0 run featuring back-to-back layups from Caelum Swanton-Rodger to build an early cushion that eventually swelled to 20 points early in the second half.
The Jordan Battle Show
It seems you never know who will be the spark on this team, Jordan Battle answered the bell in Boone. The Norfolk native finished with a season-high 25 points on an incredibly efficient 7-for-9 from the floor, including 4-of-5 from three-point range.
Battle wasn't just a scorer; he was a stabilizer. When App State cut the lead to two points in the final minute, Battle hauled in a critical defensive rebound and knocked down two clutch free throws to push the lead back to four with 18 seconds remaining.
The Second Half: Surviving the Storm
As good as the first half was, the second half was a different story. Appalachian State, led by a career-high 27 points from senior Alonzo Dodd, outscored the Monarchs 56–39 in the final period.
The game slowed down, and App State began to find rhythm in the half-court, hitting their free throws and exploiting Swanton-Rodger’s foul trouble (he eventually fouled out in just 14 minutes). The Mountaineers trimmed a 20-point deficit down to just 71–68 with 40 seconds left, capitalizing on missed ODU free throws and uncharacteristic turnovers.
The Final 30 Seconds
0:26: ODU leads 72-70; Drew McKenna misses two free throws.
0:18: Jalen Tot misses a potential go-ahead three; Jordan Battle secures the board.
0:09: Battle hits two free throws (74-70); App State misses another three-point attempt.
0:01: Zacch Wiggins hits 1-of-2 FTs; Alonzo Dodd is fouled on a desperate three and hits all three FTs to make it 75-73.
Final: ODU successfully inbound the ball after a timeout to secure the road win.
By The Numbers
Standout Monarchs:
Jordan Battle: 25 pts, 7 reb, 4 ast
LJ Thomas: 9 pts, 5 reb, 4 ast
Jared Turner: 9 pts (3/7 from 3PT)
Zacch Wiggins: 8 pts, 4/6 FT
The Verdict: It wasn't pretty late, but a road win in Boone is a road win in Boone. If ODU can find a way to combine that first-half defensive intensity with a full 40 minutes of poise, this team could be a bracket-buster come March.