James Madison defeats Old Dominion 70-69
James Madison Edges Old Dominion in Thrilling Conference Showdown
In a dramatic turn of events, the James Madison Dukes (70) outlasted the visiting Old Dominion Monarchs (69) at their home arena, the Atlantic Union Bank Center, on Monday night. The Monarchs came into the game as the heavy favorites but ultimately fell short due to a stunning comeback by the Dukes.
At halftime, it seemed like all was lost for James Madison. Down by 17 points, 44-27, the Monarchs' offense was sputtering, while their defense struggled to contain Justin McBride and company. However, in the second half, JMU's players dug deep, making crucial adjustments that allowed them to erase the deficit and take control of the game.
One player who led the charge was McBride, who poured in 29 points, including 0 three-pointers made but a respectable 52.9% field goal percentage. Eddie Ricks III chipped in with 10 points, 9 rebounds, and 2 assists, while Bradley Douglas contributed 6 points, 6 assists, and 4 rebounds.
On the other side of the court, Old Dominion's offense struggled to find its rhythm. KC Shaw led the way with 18 points, but his team was unable to get consistent production from their supporting cast. The Monarchs' defense showed flashes of brilliance, particularly in the paint, where they managed to hold James Madison to just 42 points.
Despite the disappointing result, Old Dominion's players can take heart in knowing that they fought hard until the end. Shaw's effort was a testament to his team's determination, as he scored 18 points while grabbing 7 rebounds and 2 assists.
In the end, it was James Madison who emerged victorious, thanks in large part to their ability to adjust on the fly during halftime. The Dukes' bench was energized by the change in strategy, which allowed them to outscore Old Dominion 43-31 in the second half.
As the two teams left the court, it was clear that this was a game that would be remembered for some time. For James Madison, the win marked a significant turning point in their conference season, while for Old Dominion, it served as a wake-up call to regroup and refocus before facing even tougher challenges down the road.
Game Stats:
James Madison (HOME)
* Field Goals: 24/49 (49.0%)
* 2-Point FG: 22/38 (57.9%)
* 3-Point FG: 2/11 (18.0%)
* Free Throws: 20/25 (80.0%)
* Rebounds: 42
* Assists: 11
* Turnovers: 16
* Steals: 3
* Blocks: 5
Old Dominion (AWAY)
* Field Goals: 23/62 (37.0%)
* 2-Point FG: 14/39 (35.9%)
* 3-Point FG: 9/23 (39.0%)
* Free Throws: 14/20 (70.0%)
* Rebounds: 30
* Assists: 8
* Turnovers: 7
* Steals: 11
* Blocks: 3
Game Highlights:
* James Madison erased a 17-point halftime deficit to take control of the game.
* Justin McBride led the Dukes with 29 points, including 0 three-pointers made but a respectable 52.9% field goal percentage.
* KC Shaw led Old Dominion with 18 points and 7 rebounds.
Advanced Stats:
* James Madison: eFG% 51.0%, FT Rate 51.0%, OREB% 19.0%, TO Ratio 23.5%
* Old Dominion: eFG% 44.4%, FT Rate 32.3%, OREB% 30.0%, TO Ratio 10.1%
The stage is now set for James Madison to continue their conference push, while Old Dominion looks to regroup and refocus before facing even tougher challenges in the coming weeks.