NORFOLK, Va. (Interstat) — Ketron Shaw scored 28 points and Caelum Swanton-Rodger added a double-double as Old Dominion dominated the second half to defeat Georgia State 78-55 in a Sun Belt Conference men’s basketball game Saturday at the Constant Convocation Center.

The Monarchs, who led 36-26 at halftime, outscored the Panthers 42-29 after the break to pull away decisively. The victory improved both teams’ overall records to 9-18, highlighting a matchup of squads seeking momentum in the conference standings.

Shaw, a 6-foot-4 guard from Charlotte, North Carolina, was the catalyst for Old Dominion, connecting on a variety of mid-range jumpers and aggressive drives to the basket. He finished 11 of 19 from the field, adding seven rebounds, four assists and a block in 33 minutes. His performance set the tone early, as he scored eight of the Monarchs’ first 12 points to establish an early lead they would never relinquish.

Swanton-Rodger, the 7-foot center from Calgary, Canada, controlled the paint with 17 points, 10 rebounds and four blocks. His defensive presence was a major factor, as Old Dominion outscored Georgia State 38-16 in the paint and blocked nine shots as a team. Zacch Wiggins contributed six points, four rebounds, four assists and two blocks, while Jared Turner and LJ Thomas each chipped in seven points.

Georgia State was led by guard Malachi Brown, who scored a game-high 25 points on 8-of-21 shooting. The Buford, Georgia, native played 38 minutes but received little consistent support. Joah Chappelle was the only other Panther in double figures with nine points. The Panthers struggled offensively throughout, shooting just 32.8% from the field and committing 14 turnovers, which Old Dominion converted into 16 points.

The most important stretch of the game came early in the second half, when Old Dominion extinguished any hope of a Georgia State rally. Leading 36-28, the Monarchs opened the half on a decisive 16-4 run over the first six minutes. The surge was fueled by defensive intensity and efficient offense. It began with a three-pointer from Wiggins, followed by a steal and fast-break layup from Shaw. Swanton-Rodger then asserted himself with a powerful dunk off an offensive rebound, and after a Georgia State timeout, Shaw capped the run with another dunk off a feed from Wiggins, pushing the lead to 52-32 with 14:01 remaining.

Georgia State never recovered from that blitz. The Panthers could not string together consecutive stops or scores, and every attempt at a run was met with an answering basket from Shaw or a defensive play from Swanton-Rodger. Old Dominion’s lead ballooned to as many as 26 points in the final minutes before settling at the 23-point final margin.

The game’s statistical profile underscored Old Dominion’s comprehensive performance. Beyond their dominance in the paint, the Monarchs held a 13-3 advantage in fast-break points and out-rebounded Georgia State 43-35. The Panthers, who entered the contest having lost four of their last five games, including an overtime heartbreaker to James Madison just two days prior, appeared fatigued and outmatched by Old Dominion’s physicality and execution.

For Old Dominion, the win provided a positive response after a narrow loss to Marshall earlier in the week. Shaw’s 28-point outburst continued a strong stretch for the junior, who has now scored 16 or more points in four consecutive games.

A crowd of 4,759 at the Constant Convocation Center saw Old Dominion cover the pregame spread as a 3.5-point favorite. The combined score of 133 points fell well under the over/under line of 146.5.

Both teams return to Sun Belt play next week. Old Dominion (9-18) hosts Louisiana-Lafayette on Monday. Georgia State (9-18) returns home to face rival Georgia Southern on Thursday. The two teams will meet again in Atlanta on February 27.