Men's Basketball Rolls Past Valley Forge in Opener

Monday, November 7

Harrisonburg, Va.

4:00 p.m.

James Madison University

1-0,0-0Sun Belt

123

Valley Forge

0-0,0-0CSAC

Valley Forge

James Madison

123

11/7/2022 8:14:00 PM | Men's Basketball

Box Score Box Score Press Conference Photo Gallery

HARRISONBURG, Va. - All 14 players scored for the Dukes on Monday evening, as James Madison opened its 2022-23 men's basketball season with a resounding 123-38 victory over Valley Forge at the Atlantic Union Bank Center.

The Dukes racked up the fourth-most points in program history in the win, picking up a victory in their home opener for the sixth consecutive season.

Junior guard Noah Freidel led six double-digit scorers for JMU, racking up 17 points across just 11 minutes as he hit all five of his shots, including four three-pointers that never touched the rim.

Graduate student Takal Molson tallied 14 points in his return from injury, hitting each of his four attempts along the way, while senior guard Vado Morse tallied a quick 10 points off the bench.

Sophomore forward Shane Feden racked up a career-best 12 points, while freshman forward Jerrell Roberson notched a double-double with 10 points and 11 boards in his collegiate debut.

Guard Jay White led the way for Valley Forge, racking up 20 points with the help of four three-pointers.

HOW IT HAPPENED
First Half
The Dukes struck early and often, scoring the first 18 points of the contest and stretching the lead to 35 in the first 10:04, before pushing the advantage to 72-11 by halftime and setting a new program record for most points scored in a first half.

Second Half
JMU pushed things to 83-13 within the first three minutes of the half before making wholesale substitutions. Valley Forge would score 25 points the rest of the way as the Dukes cruised to a victory.

QUICK HITS
- The Dukes' 72 first-half points broke JMU's previous record of 62 in the opening half of a 106-86 win over Navy on Feb. 19, 1991.
- Valley Forge's 38 points are the fewest allowed by the Dukes under Byington.
- The win marked the college debuts for freshmen Xavier Brown, Jerrell Roberson and Brycen Blaine and sophomore Dylan Hamrick.

UP NEXT
The Dukes will be back in action at home on Wednesday, Nov. 9, when they welcome Hampton to the Atlantic Union Bank Center for a 7 p.m. matchup. It will be the Pirates' first contest of the 2022-23 season.