Georgia Southern Holds Off Old Dominion Despite Historic Night from Battle
Georgia Southern holds off a surging Old Dominion 88-84 despite Jordan Battle scoring 45 points in his final collegiate game, a new Sun Belt Conference Tournament record.
The Eagles were led by Spudd Webb, who scored 29 points and dished out five assists, as well as Alden Applewhite’s career-high 27 points. Georgia Southern shot over 60% from 2-point range and 42% from deep.
Applewhite scored the first 12 points of the game for the Eagles, helping Georgia Southern jump out to a quick 10-point lead. Old Dominion was able to battle back throughout the first half without Caelum Swanton-Rodger, who missed the game due to an injury suffered in the first round. The Monarchs cut the lead down to two at the break, trailing 39-37.
Georgia Southern was led by Applewhite at halftime, as he had 18 points, more than he scored in both matchups against the Monarchs earlier this season. Tyren Moore added eight, while Webb struggled and had only six points through the first 20 minutes. As a team, the Eagles hit seven three-pointers and scored 14 points off Monarch turnovers compared to Old Dominion’s six.
This man is playing out of his mind right now! 🤯
He’s got 18!#HailSouthern pic.twitter.com/CZs2P5bwba
— Georgia Southern Men’s Basketball (@GSAthletics_MBB) March 5, 2026
Battle finished the half with 13 points, including going perfect from deep and the free-throw line. Scottie Hubbard and LJ Thomas both had seven points, while Robert Davis Jr. added six. The Monarchs shot 60% from beyond the arc, but going just 12-for-27 from the field hurt them.
In the second half, the game stayed within striking distance for the Monarchs for the first 10 minutes, but the Eagles took a double-digit lead with roughly nine minutes remaining and looked to be pulling away.
Battle had other ideas, putting the team on his back and seemingly not missing a shot. He scored 32 second-half points, but his assist to Zach Wiggins that resulted in an and-one with 14 seconds left kept Old Dominion within reach. Battle got a good look from deep to tie the game late, but a rare miss allowed Georgia Southern to hold on for the 88-84 win.
𝗘𝗔𝗚𝗟𝗘𝗦 𝗦𝗧𝗔𝗠𝗣.@GSAthletics_MBB is Third Round Bound and places its sticker on the bracket after tonight’s win in Pensacola. ☀️🏀 pic.twitter.com/PB97KvWXk9
— Sun Belt (@SunBelt) March 5, 2026
Setting a new tournament record, Battle finished with 45 points, including going 8-for-10 from three and hitting 15 free throws. Old Dominion’s leading scorer on the season, KC Shaw, struggled, finishing with two points and fouling out in the second half. Hubbard finished with 10 points and eight rebounds.
Outside of the big nights from Webb and Applewhite, Moore finished with 11 but fouled out after a technical foul late in the second half. Shainen Carter added nine points and five rebounds off the bench. As a team, the Eagles shot similarly to the Monarchs, and the game was close in most statistical categories. However, 24 made free throws and 21 points off turnovers helped Georgia Southern see out the game.
Old Dominion finished the season 12-21 and enters the offseason with several questions, as four of its starters are out of eligibility. Georgia Southern improves to 17-15 and will take on the No. 7 seed Arkansas State Red Wolves in the next round.
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