Old Dominion defeats James Madison 77-68
Old Dominion Edges James Madison in Conference Showdown
The Old Dominion Monarchs proved their home court advantage was too much for the visiting James Madison Dukes, securing a 77-68 victory on Friday night at Chartway Arena.
In a tightly contested conference matchup, the Monarchs' strong team defense and rebounding effort allowed them to maintain a comfortable lead throughout. The game's turning point came at halftime, when Old Dominion extended its lead from 22-17 to 34-22, setting the tone for the rest of the contest.
KC Shaw led the way for the Monarchs with 22 points, hitting 50% of his field goal attempts and grabbing seven rebounds. Jared Turner chipped in with a double-double of 14 points and seven boards, while Jordan Battle contributed three assists to help fuel the victory.
For James Madison, Justin McBride was the lone bright spot, scoring 24 points on 73.3% shooting from the field. However, it wasn't enough to overcome the Monarchs' balanced attack.
The Dukes struggled from beyond the arc, hitting just one of five three-point attempts. In contrast, Old Dominion's eight three-pointers were a crucial factor in their win, as they accounted for 32% of their total points.
Advanced statistics painted a similar picture. The Monarchs boasted an effective field goal percentage (eFG%) of 47.2%, while James Madison lagged behind at 50.9%. Old Dominion's true shooting percentage was also higher, at 57.0%, compared to the Dukes' 54.9%.
The final margin of nine points reflected a game that never truly belonged to either team. However, it was clear from the start that Old Dominion's home court advantage and superior rebounding gave them an edge.
As the Monarchs celebrated their win, they took another step towards establishing themselves as contenders in the conference standings. For James Madison, it was a tough road trip result that will need to be regrouped on heading into next week's schedule.