Dukes Drop Battle With Murray State to Close Naples Invitational

Wednesday, November 24

Naples, Fla.

2:30 p.m.

James Madison University

5-2,0-0CAA

Murray State

5-1,0-0OVC

Murray St.

James Madison

Dukes Drop Battle With Murray State to Close Naples Invitational

11/24/2021 6:45:00 PM | Men's Basketball

Box Score Box Score

HARRISONBURG, Va. - James Madison stormed out to an early lead on Wednesday afternoon, but couldn't hold off a hard-charging Murray State team as the Dukes dropped a 74-62 decision in their final game of the Naples Invitational.

The Dukes (5-2) charged out to lead by as many as 12 in the first half, but MSU (5-1) used 17 straight points that spanned across halftime to put JMU in a hole it could not climb out of, as the Racers shot 72.4% from the field in the second period.

Graduate student Takal Molson tallied 14 points to lead the Dukes, adding a game-high nine rebounds along the way. Fellow grad students Charles Falden and Alonzo Sule joined Molson in double digits with 10 points each.

HOW IT HAPPENED
First Half
The Dukes struck early, scoring the first eight points of the game and stretching the lead out to 13-2 with 14:17 to play in the half. MSU would respond with six straight points of its own, but the Dukes would use another burst to make it 23-11 on a three-pointer from sophomore Julien Wooden at the 6:32 mark.

JMU's lead of 30-20 with 1:32 left in the half would be their last double-digit advantage, as the Racers scored the final five points of the half to start their decisive run.

Second Half
Murray State would keep the pressure on, opening the second half with 12 straight points to take the lead and drive it to 37-30 before a floater from junior Vado Morse halted the run.

The Racers would continue pushing, however, going up 52-38 with 10:46 to play and eventually pushing the advantage to 65-48 at the 5:39 mark, matching their largest lead of the game. JMU would battle back to within 12, but would get no closer in their second loss of the year.

QUICK HITS
- Molson's team-high nine boards made him the fifth different JMU player to lead the team in rebounding in a game.
- Wooden drilled a pair of three-pointers on his way to eight points, five rebounds and two steals.
- The loss marked JMU's first loss by double digits since Head Coach Mark Byington took over in Harrisonburg prior to last season.

UP NEXT
The Dukes remain on the road in the Sunshine State through the weekend, traveling east to take on Florida Atlantic in a 2 p.m. matchup on Sunday, Nov. 28. Heading into the matchup, FAU is 3-3 on the season, most recently dropping an 83-78 decision in overtime to Troy this past Monday.