Marshall defeats James Madison 64-66

Marshall Edges James Madison in Thrilling Conference Showdown

In a nail-biting conference matchup, Marshall (AWAY) edged James Madison (HOME) 66-64 at the Atlantic Union Bank Center on Thursday night.

The away team came out strong, taking an early lead and never looking back. At halftime, Marshall held a slim 36-25 advantage over the home team, setting the tone for a tightly contested second half. The visitors' momentum carried over into the final minutes of the game, as they managed to maintain their two-point cushion.

Noah Otshudi led the charge for Marshall with 16 points, including 50% shooting from the field. Jalen Speer provided a spark off the bench, chipping in 15 points and five rebounds.

Meanwhile, Justin McBride paced James Madison with 14 points, but struggled to find his range beyond the arc, going 0-4 from three-point territory. Preston Fowler anchored the home team's frontcourt, grabbing eight rebounds and adding 10 points.

The game was a defensive battle, with both teams struggling to find their rhythm on offense. Marshall outrebounded James Madison 38-40 but made up for it by holding a significant edge in free throw shooting, going 12-16 from the line.

As the clock ticked down, the tension mounted, and the outcome hung precariously in the balance. In the end, Marshall's consistency on both ends of the floor proved to be too much for James Madison to overcome.

The win marks a significant statement for Marshall in conference play, as they continue to establish themselves as a force to be reckoned with in the league.