On a crisp winter evening with snow blanketing Old Dominion University’s campus, over 6,000 fans packed Chartway Arena to witness the Monarchs take on in-state rival James Madison in a critical conference matchup. Despite a strong start by ODU, the Dukes ultimately claimed a 74-60 victory, securing both bragging rights and a much-needed Sun Belt Conference win.
James Madison (11-9, 4-4 Sun Belt) entered the contest having lost three of its last four games, while Old Dominion (8-12, 4-4 Sun Belt) looked to rebound after consecutive home losses in which slow starts proved costly.
The Monarchs came out aggressive, led by sophomore guard Robert Davis Jr., who opened the game with an and-one basket to make it 3-0. Junior guard Sean Durugordon’s defense forced a turnover that led to a fast-break basket, extending ODU’s lead to 5-2. ODU continued to build momentum, with Davis Jr. adding a three-pointer and two free throws to cap off a 9-0 run, giving the Monarchs a 14-4 lead midway through the first half.
However, JMU responded swiftly. A pair of free throws and a 6-0 scoring run brought the Dukes back within four points. Outrebounding the Monarchs and converting tough layups in the paint, JMU eventually took their first lead of the game, 20-17. Although Davis Jr. momentarily reclaimed the lead for ODU with back-to-back three-pointers, JMU closed the half with a dominant 12-0 run. A late jump shot by freshman guard Jaden Johnson in the closing seconds provided a small spark for the Monarchs, but they trailed 37-29 at halftime.
In the second half, ODU briefly trimmed the deficit to five points as junior center Caelum Swanton-Rodger hit a pair of free throws. However, JMU quickly seized control with a 10-0 run, fueled by efficient shooting and defensive pressure. The Monarchs struggled to find an offensive rhythm, and the Dukes maintained a double-digit lead for much of the second half. Despite efforts from Davis Jr. and Swanton-Rodger to close the gap—bringing the score to 58-50 at one point—ODU couldn’t overcome JMU’s momentum.
The Dukes were highly efficient, shooting 54.3 percent from the field (25-of-46), while ODU struggled, making just 32.7 percent of its shots (18-of-55). The Monarchs outshot JMU at the free-throw line (21-19) and attempted nine more shots overall, but poor shooting proved costly.
Davis Jr. led all scorers with 23 points, while Johnson contributed 14 points, and Durugordon posted a double-double with 10 points, 10 rebounds, and five steals. However, JMU’s balanced attack and ability to capitalize on key opportunities secured their victory in this heated Royal Rivalry matchup.
The loss marks three straight home defeats for the Monarchs, who will need to regroup as they head deeper into conference play.
Reflecting on the need for improvement in his team’s offensive performance, ODU head coach Mike Jones highlighted the value of unity and unselfish play.
“We’ve got to play together. We’ve got to play and execute an offense in which we are willing to share (the ball), in which we’re willing to play for one another,” Jones said. “I’m not pointing fingers at any one person. This is a collective thing. We’ve got to coach them to share the ball better. They’ve got to execute to share the ball better.”
Next up for Old Dominion is another home game, this time against Sun Belt rival Coastal Carolina. The matchup is scheduled for Saturday at 7 p.m., as the Monarchs look to bounce back and continue their winning ways in conference play.
