GAME NOTES: A Colonial Athletic Association battle will take place tonight at the Ted Constant Convocation Center, as the Old Dominion Monarchs get set to host the Hofstra Pride. It has been a rough start to the season for Hofstra, which has lost eight of its first 10 games. The Pride are currently in the midst of a three-game losing skid, with the most recent setback coming this past Saturday against Marist (73-67). Hofstra has lost all four of its matchups on the road this season. As for the Monarchs, they have lost their last three contests, including a rough, 73-57 setback to UAB this past Saturday. The current losing skid has dropped ODU to just 6-7 on the season, but the Monarchs are an impressive 5-1 at home. Next up for ODU will be a home game against William & Mary, followed by two straight away games. The Monarchs have a slim 9-7 lead over Hofstra in the all-time series and that includes a 96-82 victory over the Pride last year at the Constant Convocation Center.

The Pride rely heavily on the play of Antoine Agudio (26.8 ppg), but the standout guard has been sidelined the past two matchups with an ankle injury and the team has struggled in his absence. In the recent six-point setback to Marist, the Pride shot less than 40.0 percent from the field and made a mere 5-of-21 attempts from behind the arc. Without Agudio the team was led by Charles Jenkins, scored 21 points, while Nathaniel Lester added a double- double, netting 17 points to go along with 11 rebounds. Other than Agudio only Jenkins is contributing double figures on the season, as the guard is posting 13.3 ppg. Even with Agudio the Pride have had trouble posting points on the season, as the team is averaging a mediocre 67.0 ppg.

Much like their counterpart, the Monarchs have also had trouble offensively, averaging just 63.3 ppg, while shooting a mere 41.6 percent from the field. Only Gerald Lee is averaging double figures on the season, as the forward is posting 11.6 ppg to go along with a team-best 6.0 rpg. The offensive woes continued for ODU the last time the team took the floor, as the Monarchs scored just 57 points en route to a 16-point loss to UAB. In the setback, the Monarchs shot a pathetic 32.4 percent from the field and made only 7-of-32 shots from long range. Darius James led the team with 12 points and also grabbed seven rebounds off the bench, while Lee and Brian Henderson both chipped in 11 points apiece.

Neither team has performed well offensively, but the Pride's chances rely on the health of Agudio. If the guard is ready to go, Hofstra could pull off a road victory, but if he is out once again, the Pride will struggle.