NORFOLK, Va. – Two teams tied for first place in the Conference USA standings will duke it out when the Old Dominion men’s basketball team (12-and-3, 3-and-0 C-USA) welcomes Western Kentucky (11-and-5, 3-and-0 C-USA) to the Ted Constant Convocation Center Thursday, Jan. 11 at 8:00 p.m.
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ODU men's basketball
The Monarchs, unbeaten at home this season (6-and-0) enter the contest riding a seven-game win streak, their longest since the 2015-16 season.
"It's big," ODU head men's basketball coach Jeff Jones admitted when asked about the significance of Thursday's game. "We've got a chance to have them on our home court and we have to take care of business. They're a very good basketball team and one that has gotten a lot of national notoriety. They're a good team, they're a team that is going to be a factor in the standings and we have to take care of business on our home floor."
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ODU head men's basketball coach Jeff Jones
WKU has trailed for just 26 combined seconds in its three opening Conference USA wins. The Hilltoppers' five losses have come by a total of 22 points – an average of 4.4 points per game.
The Hilltoppers received a boost on the eve of their battle for first place in the CUSA standings. Redshirt sophomore forward Moustapha Diagne, a 6-foot9, former four-star recruit, has been ruled eligible by the NCAA. He'd been required to sit-out while the NCAA determines his status.