NORFOLK, Va. (Interstat) — In a season defined by narrow defeats, the Louisiana-Monroe Warhawks finally found a formula for victory: a dominant first half and a resilient response to every challenge. Led by a career-high 28 points from Krystian Lewis, the Warhawks snapped a three-game skid and secured just their fourth win of the season with an 85-79 victory over Old Dominion on Wednesday night at the Constant Convocation Center.

The game’s decisive stretch came early, as Louisiana-Monroe (4-20, 1-10 Sun Belt) constructed a commanding lead that the Monarchs (7-17, 3-8) spent the entire evening trying to overcome. The Warhawks opened the game on a 15-2 run, fueled by aggressive defense and efficient interior scoring. Lewis, a 6-foot-3 guard from Monroe, Louisiana, set the tone with a three-pointer on the game’s first possession. Lavell Brodnex and MJ Russell provided consistent scoring support, finishing with 21 points each.

Old Dominion, which entered as a heavy favorite according to national metrics, looked out of sync offensively for the first 20 minutes. The Monarchs shot just 26.7% from the field in the first half and committed 10 turnovers, which the Warhawks converted into 12 points. Despite a significant rebounding advantage, Old Dominion could not buy a basket, trailing 34-26 at the break. The 26-point half was a season low for the Monarchs at home.

The most important part of the game, however, was Louisiana-Monroe’s steadfast composure in the face of Old Dominion’s inevitable second-half surge. The Monarchs, led by Norfolk native Jordan Battle’s game-high 23 points, came alive after halftime. A 13-4 run early in the second period, capped by a three-pointer from Battle, cut the Warhawks’ lead to just 41-39, sending a charge through the crowd of 4,311.

Each time Old Dominion drew close, Louisiana-Monroe had an answer. When Ketron Shaw’s layup brought the Monarchs within 54-52 with just over eight minutes to play, Brodnex calmly sank two free throws. When Battle’s three-pointer made it 67-64 with under three minutes remaining, Lewis drove for a crucial layup. The Warhawks, who have lost nine games by single digits this season, executed down the stretch at the free-throw line, making 28 of 36 attempts for the game.

Lewis was the linchpin, adding six assists to his scoring output and going a perfect 8-for-8 from the line in the final 23 seconds to ice the game. His performance continued a strong individual stretch, averaging over 20 points in his last three contests. For Old Dominion, Battle’s 23 points were supplemented by 16 from Ketron Shaw and 13 from Zacch Wiggins. The Monarchs won the battle in several categories, including three-point shooting (8-27 to 3-20), points off turnovers (20-17), and fast-break points (21-20), but their frigid first-half shooting and 10 missed free throws proved insurmountable.

Defensively, the Warhawks clogged the paint, blocking four shots and holding Old Dominion to just 32 points inside, while scoring 40 of their own. The Warhawks’ offensive rating of 110.2 on 77 possessions edged out the Monarchs’ 104.3 on 76 possessions, underscoring the efficiency that carried them to the upset.

The result defied pregame expectations, as Old Dominion had been projected with a 93% probability to win and was installed as a 13.5-point favorite. The combined score of 164 points also went over the posted total of 151.5.

Louisiana-Monroe will look to build on the win when it hosts Ball State on Saturday. Old Dominion, which has now lost two straight, aims to regroup at home against Ohio on the same day.