NORFOLK — Old Dominion fans had seen this before, and recently.

The Monarchs held a double-digit lead early in the second half, and those watching could only wonder how they would manage to blow it.

Instead, they finished the job with style.

KC Shaw scored 28 points Saturday and ODU turned in a complete effort in a 78-55 Sun Belt Conference dismantling of Georgia State at Chartway Arena.

The victory followed Wednesday’s baffling 81-79 home loss to Marshall, in which the Monarchs led by 17 in the second half. Before that, ODU held off Ohio in a 78-72 home nonconference win, further evidence of its inconsistency this season.

On Saturday, the Monarchs (9-18, 5-9 Sun Belt) were consistently good. They got 17 points and 10 rebounds from 7-foot senior center Caelum Swanton-Rodger, a whistle magnet who was called for three fouls in 31 minutes. ODU finished with 21 assists.

Malachi Brown scored 25 points for the Panthers (9-18, 6-8), who managed only 26% shooting compared to ODU’s 55%. Georgia State lost for the sixth straight time.

Never did the announced crowd of 4,759 roar louder than when seldom-used senior guard Cooper Jones made a 3 from the top of the key with 24 seconds left to account for the final margin.

Shaw, a senior guard from Charlotte who transferred from Maryland Eastern Shore, did his damage on 13-for-18 shooting.

Leading 46-35 five minutes into the second half, the Monarchs went on a dizzying 15-1 run to remove all doubt. Shaw’s follow dunk over a defender minutes later lit up the place and gave ODU a 67-42 lead.

The Monarchs entered halftime with a 36-26 lead, their biggest to that point, behind 54% shooting while holding Georgia State to 27%.

Shaw, who scored 18 in the first half, brought the crowd to life with a transition alley-oop dunk in the final seconds.

The play came shortly after a sleep-inducing span of five minutes in which neither team made a field goal.

A large contingent of former ODU players and coaches were recognized at halftime, followed by the No. 42 jersey retirement of all-time leading scorer Ronnie Valentine. A two-time All-American, Valentine played at the school from 1977-80.

His jersey was the ninth to be retired at the school.

The Monarchs honored their five seniors before the game, which was scheduled to be the last of the season at Chartway. Louisiana visits Monday for a snow-induced makeup game.

David Hall, david.hall@pilotonline.com.

https://www.pilotonline.com/2026/02/14/odu-finishes-strong-this-time-in-home-win-over-georgia-state/