ODU Loses to Marshall After Blowing 17-Point Lead

Monarchs squander big advantage in home loss to Thundering Herd

Feb. 12, 2026 at 1:39am

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The Old Dominion Monarchs basketball team lost a heartbreaker to the Marshall Thundering Herd, 81-79, after giving up a 17-point lead in the game played at Chartway Arena in Norfolk, Virginia on February 11, 2026.

Why it matters

This loss is a tough blow for the Monarchs, who were looking to build momentum heading into the final stretch of the season. Blowing big leads is always a concern for teams, as it can shake their confidence and lead to more losses down the road.

The details

The Monarchs had built up a commanding 17-point advantage at one point in the game, but the Thundering Herd were able to mount a furious comeback in the second half to ultimately win by a narrow 2-point margin.

  • The game was played on February 11, 2026 at Chartway Arena in Norfolk, Virginia.

The players

Old Dominion Monarchs

The men's basketball team from Old Dominion University, located in Norfolk, Virginia.

Marshall Thundering Herd

The men's basketball team from Marshall University, located in Huntington, West Virginia.

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The takeaway

This game highlights the importance of maintaining focus and composure throughout an entire 40-minute contest. The Monarchs will need to learn from this tough loss and find ways to protect big leads if they hope to turn their season around.