Dukes Shoot Past Howard, 107-86

Sunday, November 12

Harrisonburg, Va.

4 p.m.

James Madison University

3-0,0-0Sun Belt

107

Howard

1-2,0-0MEAC

Howard

James Madison

107

11/12/2023 8:01:00 PM | Men's Basketball

Box Score Photo Gallery

HARRISONBURG, Va. -- James Madison men's basketball used hot shooting to run past Howard 107-86 in its home opener at the Atlantic Union Bank Center Sunday afternoon.

Redshirt senior Julien Wooden led five Dukes in double figures, tallying a career-high 22 points in 26 minutes off the bench. Guard Michael Green III added 17 points on five triples, while forwards Terrence Edwards Jr and T.J. Bickerstaff pitched in 14 points.

Howard took a 31-30 lead with 7:20 in the first half before JMU erupted with a 33-9 run that bridged the halves and gave the Dukes (3-0) enough to cruise to the victory. As a team, JMU shot 54 percent from the field (37-of-69) and buried 11 triples.

JMU controlled the pace of the game, scoring 27 points off 20 Howard turnovers. The Dukes also outscored the Bison in the paint (52-36) and held the advantage in steals (14-6) and assists (18-6).

Howard was led by Marcus Dockery, who finished with 21 points and five rebounds, while Jordan Hairston added 16 points of his own. Overall, the Bison shot 47.5 percent from the field.

HOW IT HAPPENED

First Half

A three-pointer from Green III kicked off the scoring for JMU, but Howard responded with five made shots in a row, tying the score at 12 at the under-16 timeout.
Wooden secured a fast break dunk and added another layup, but the Bison maintained a 21-18 lead on a pair of free throws from Jordan Hairston.
Both teams continued to trade blows, but consecutive triples from Green and Noah Freidel gave the Dukes a 30-28 lead with 7:44 remaining in the half.
After Howard took back the lead (31-30), back-to-back fast break slams from Bickerstaff sparked a 17-1 run for the Dukes, giving JMU a 47-32 lead with 3:12 on the clock.
The Dukes continued to pour it on as Friedel capped off a blistering first half with his second triple of the game, giving JMU a 59-40 lead at the break.

Second Half

JMU continued to pile on to start the second half, as a layup from Edwards Jr gave the Dukes a 71-46 lead at the first break.
A triple from Wooden at the 12:05 mark tied the redshirt senior's career-high (18), giving JMU an 80-53 lead.
The Dukes kept scorching the net, holding a 92-67 lead with 7:35 remaining, and eclipsed the century mark on a pair of free throws from Wooden.
JMU was able to empty out its bench, as Hollman Smith buried a three-pointer with 18 seconds left, which closed the scoring.

GAME NOTES

In the first half, the Dukes shot a blistering 58 percent (19-of-33) from the field and 8-of-16 from beyond the three-point line.
The 59-point outburst in the first half was the most for JMU in a half since Feb. 19, 1991, when the Dukes scored 62 vs. Navy.
Julien Wooden collected a career-high 22 points off the bench for JMU. Through three games, the redshirt senior is averaging 12 points, which would also be a career-best.
The Dukes' 107 points are the second time in three contests the season JMU has eclipsed the century mark. Through three games, the Dukes are averaging 99.66 points – which would be a program record.
Green III's five triples set a new career high. In three games this season, the senior is shooting 50 percent from behind the arc (10-of-20).
The Dukes' three wins this season - Michigan State, Kent State, and Howard - all competed in the 2023 NCAA tournament.
Quincy Allen scored a career-high 13 points, hitting all five of his shots in 11 minutes off the bench.