NORFOLK, Va. (Interstat) — A dominant second-half performance fueled by a career night from hometown guard Jordan Battle lifted Old Dominion to an 83-72 victory over Louisiana-Lafayette in a Sun Belt Conference men’s basketball game Monday night at a raucous Constant Convocation Center. A crowd of 6,058 watched the Monarchs, who led by just a single point at halftime, erupt for 49 points after the break to pull away from the Ragin’ Cajuns and improve their record to 10-18 overall. Louisiana-Lafayette fell to 9-18. The game’s pivotal shift occurred in the opening minutes of the second half. Leading 34-33, Old Dominion unleashed a decisive 12-2 run that transformed a tense, back-and-forth affair into a contest they would control the rest of the way. The surge was spearheaded by Battle, the Norfolk native, who drilled a three-pointer and facilitated another basket during the stretch. The Monarchs’ defense simultaneously tightened, forcing several Cajun turnovers and contested misses that fueled their transition game. Battle was the undeniable catalyst, finishing with a game-high 27 points, surpassing his previous season high. He was efficient from the floor and a perfect 11-for-11 from the free-throw line, including several clutch makes in the final minute to seal the outcome. His performance marked a significant offensive resurgence after scoring a combined 11 points in his previous two games. He was supported by a balanced effort. Ketron Shaw added 16 points and five assists, while 7-foot center Caelum Swanton-Rodger of Calgary dominated the interior with 15 points, several on powerful dunks. Zacch Wiggins contributed 12 points and LJ Thomas chipped in 11 for the Monarchs, who shot 50 percent from the field in the second half. Louisiana-Lafayette, which had won two of its last three games, was led by the scoring trio of Jaxon Olvera, Dorian Finister and De’Vion Lavergne. Olvera, a 6-foot-5 guard from Houston, scored 23 points. Finister, from New Orleans, added 17, and Lavergne finished with 16 points, three assists and two blocks. The Cajuns stayed close for a half by answering every Old Dominion push, but could not sustain their offensive rhythm against the Monarchs’ intensified defensive pressure after halftime. The first half was a tightly contested sequence of runs. Old Dominion established an early inside presence with Swanton-Rodger, but the Cajuns responded with outside shooting from Olvera and Finister. The lead changed hands multiple times, with neither team building an advantage larger than five points. A late layup by Battle gave the Monarchs a narrow 34-33 edge at the intermission. That slim margin evaporated quickly after the restart. Old Dominion’s explosive run to begin the second half created a double-digit cushion that Louisiana-Lafayette could never seriously threaten. The Cajuns cut the deficit to nine points on multiple occasions, but each time the Monarchs answered, often with Battle attacking the rim or drawing fouls. The victory provided a positive note for Old Dominion as it prepares for a two-game road trip, beginning Saturday at Southern Mississippi. The Monarchs outperformed pregame expectations, having been installed as a six-point favorite in a game where the total score surpassed the projected over/under. Louisiana-Lafayette, which saw a two-game winning streak snapped, returns home to host Arkansas State on Thursday. The Cajuns will look to regroup after a game where their defensive efforts, particularly in the paint where Old Dominion scored 46 points, proved insufficient against the Monarchs’ second-half onslaught. The game was a showcase for Battle, whose 27-point outing was his highest scoring output since a 23-point game against Louisiana-Monroe earlier this month. His ability to take over the game after halftime was the defining feature of a contest that ultimately swung on Old Dominion’s superior execution and energy in the final 20 minutes.