Final Score: Old Dominion 87, ULM 80
Key Stat: ODU shot a blistering 65% (13-of-20) from beyond the arc.
The Story of the Game
If you blinked in the first three minutes, you missed the knockout blow. Old Dominion exploded out of the gates with a 14-0 run, hitting their first eight shots of the game. For a team that has struggled with consistency all year, the Monarchs looked like a different squad in the Pensacola Bay Center, pushing the lead to as many as 19 in the first half.
However, ULM didn't just go away. The Warhawks spent the entire second half living at the free-throw line, attempting 34 free throws to ODU's 22. While the Monarchs never actually trailed, the lead shrank to just five points with 26 seconds left. It wasn't always pretty down the stretch, but Mike Jones’ group did enough to wash away the bitter taste of their regular-season loss to the Warhawks and keep the season alive for at least one more night.
The "Unfiltered" Statistical Breakdown
The 3-Point Barrage: This was the difference. ODU didn't just beat ULM from deep; they put on a clinic. Hitting 13-of-20 (65%) is elite by any standard. Jared Turner and Robert Davis Jr. were the primary catalysts here, stretching the floor and punishing ULM's zone.
Small Ball Necessity: The Monarchs lost 7-foot center Caelum Swanton-Rodger to an injury in the first half. This forced 6'8" Jared Turner to play significant minutes at the "5" spot. While it limited ODU's rim protection, it created a massive mismatch on the other end that ULM couldn't solve.
The Charity Stripe Gap: This is where ULM stayed in the game. The Warhawks made 29 free throws—nearly 40% of their total points. ODU’s defense became tentative in the second half, allowing Krystian Lewis (27 points) to repeatedly draw contact.
Sharing the Wealth: ODU finished with 19 assists on 30 made baskets. The ball movement was the best we've seen in weeks, leading to high-quality looks that fueled that 50% overall field goal percentage.
Individual Standouts
KC Shaw: A true alpha performance. Shaw finished with 25 points, 9 rebounds, and 7 assists. He was the stabilizing force every time ULM threatened to make it a one-possession game.
Jared Turner: Stepped up in a huge way after the Swanton-Rodger injury. He tied a career-high with five triples, finishing with 15 points and 6 boards while playing out of position.
Robert Davis Jr.: His return to form is the X-factor for this tournament run. Davis dropped 15 points on 4-of-6 shooting from deep, providing the secondary scoring punch ODU has desperately missed.
LJ Thomas: Managed the game effectively with 12 points and 5 assists, keeping the tempo in ODU's favor during the chaotic final minutes.
The Bottom Line
Winning the first game of a tournament is rarely about style points; it’s about surviving the "lose and go home" pressure. ODU proved they can shoot well enough to beat anyone in this league, but the defensive lapses in the second half are a major red flag.
With Swanton-Rodger’s status questionable for tonight, the Monarchs are going to have to find a way to defend the paint without their primary eraser. They move on to the second round to face a Georgia Southern team that swept them in the regular season.
Next Up: (11) ODU vs. (10) Georgia Southern – tonight at 8:30 PM ET on ESPN+.