JONESBORO, Ark. (Interstat) — In a stunning reversal of both recent form and pregame expectation, the Old Dominion Monarchs weathered a furious second-half rally to secure a 75-71 road victory over the Arkansas State Red Wolves in a Sun Belt Conference men’s basketball clash Wednesday night at Convocation Center.

The Monarchs, who entered the game with a 6-15 record and were projected by analytics to have less than a 9% chance of winning, led for nearly 39 minutes of game time. They built a 12-point lead late in the first half and held a five-point advantage at halftime, 38-33, before fending off multiple Arkansas State charges in the final period to snap a two-game skid and improve to 7-15 overall.

Arkansas State, which fell to 13-9, saw its two-game winning streak halted despite erasing nearly all of a 10-point second-half deficit. The Red Wolves, installed as 8.5-point favorites, could never quite seize the lead in a game where they struggled to find consistent offensive rhythm against an aggressive Old Dominion defense.

The most critical sequence of the game unfolded in the final 12 seconds. With Old Dominion clinging to a 71-68 lead after Arkansas State’s Christian Harmon drilled a deep 3-pointer, the Monarchs’ Ketron Shaw was fouled and sent to the line with six seconds remaining. Shaw, a junior from Charlotte, North Carolina, calmly sank both free throws to extend the lead to five points.

On the ensuing possession, Arkansas State’s TJ Caldwell missed a desperation 3-pointer. A scramble for the offensive rebound ensued, but the Red Wolves could not convert a put-back attempt before the final buzzer, sealing the Monarchs’ resilient road win.

Old Dominion was propelled by a standout performance from guard Jordan Battle. The Norfolk, Virginia, native scored a game-high 20 points and dished out six assists, providing steady leadership throughout. Shaw complemented him with 16 points and five assists, including the decisive free throws. The interior presence of 7-foot center Caelum Swanton-Rodger was also pivotal; the Calgary native scored 13 points, grabbed numerous key rebounds, and recorded two blocks in 24 minutes of action.

Arkansas State’s effort was led by Harmon, who matched Battle with 20 points. Jalen Hampton added 12 points, and Chandler Jackson facilitated the offense with eight assists, but the Red Wolves were plagued by stretches of inefficient shooting and 15 turnovers, which Old Dominion converted into 18 points.

The Monarchs set the tone early, opening the game on a 7-0 run and maintaining control for the entirety of the first half. Their defense disrupted Arkansas State’s sets, and Battle’s playmaking created open looks. A Battle 3-pointer just before the halftime horn provided a significant momentum boost, sending Old Dominion into the locker room with a 38-33 edge.

The second half became a tense affair of runs. Arkansas State, spurred by its home crowd of 4,776, consistently chipped away at the deficit. A 7-0 spurt midway through the period, capped by a Chandler Jackson 3-pointer, brought the Red Wolves within a single point at 54-53. Each time the home team threatened, however, Old Dominion had an answer, often from Battle or Shaw, to maintain a slim cushion.

The victory marks a significant turnaround for Old Dominion, which had lost several close games earlier in the season, including a double-overtime heartbreaker to Troy just a week prior. For Arkansas State, the loss represents a missed opportunity to solidify its standing in the conference race.

Old Dominion looks to build on this performance when it travels to face Texas State on Saturday. Arkansas State aims to rebound at home against Marshall on the same day.