#22 Dukes Advance to Cancun Challenge Riviera Division Championship

Tuesday, November 21

Riviera Maya, Mexico

6 p.m.

James Madison University

5-0,0-0Sun Belt

Southern Illinois

3-1,0-0MVC

James Madison

Southern Ill.

#22 Dukes Advance to Cancun Challenge Riviera Division Championship

11/21/2023 8:47:00 PM | Men's Basketball

Box Score

RIVIERA MAYA, MEXICO -- The James Madison men's basketball team opened up their time in Mexico with an 82—76 win over Southern Illinois on Tuesday evening. The win advances the #22 Dukes (5-0) to the Riviera Division Championship Game on Wednesday, where they will face the winner of tonight's New Mexico State and Fresno State game. It is the first time since 1981-82 that JMU has started the season 5-0.

In their first game of their first appearance in the Cancun Challenge, the Dukes were also looking for their first win against the Southern Illinois Salukis. In the history of the matchup, James Madison had never beaten Southern Illinois, until today. The series now stands at 1-3 all-time in favor of the Salukis. It evens the score on neutral floor for the two teams (1-1).

HOW IT HAPPENED:

First Half

The Dukes (5-0) won the tip and drew a foul in their first possession, leading to a bucket from Julien Wooden to open the scoring. This gave JMU the lead, which they would narrowly keep for the entirety of the first half.
Terrence Edwards Jr. backed a defender down to the block and scored over him to make it 4-0. T.J. Bickerstaff then scored on consecutive trips up the court, including an and-one opportunity which he completed. The graduate forward had 7 of the team's first 11 points.
The Salukis got on the board by banking in a three-pointer, but through the first 12 minutes of the half, they shot just 22% from beyond the arc.
Julien Wooden nailed a three, and Xavier Brown drove through the lane on the Dukes' next trip up the court to make it 21-10.
JMU rallied off of the momentum they had on defense. They caused 6 turnovers and scored 12 points off of them. They also protected the ball and turned it over just twice through the first 15 minutes of play. This allowed them to gain their largest lead of the game (29-13).
The Salukis, despite a slow start shooting from the field, were able to cut down that lead and bring it to within one point by the end of the period. Xavier Johnson was firing it off from downtown. He led the team with 22 first half points. Just five other players scored in the first 20 minutes of play for Southern Illinois.

Second Half

SIU picked up their first lead of the game out of the halftime break. JMU had led for 20:03 up to that point.
TJ Bickerstaff drew an offensive foul and then made a strong move under the hoop, making it 44-43 JMU.
Entering the first media timeout of the second half, the Dukes, who had been solid from the free throw line through their first four games, were shooting just 61% (9-14), while SIU was 78% (14-18). JMU out-rebounded SIU 24-17 to this point, but the teams were still tied 47-47.
SIU remained physical, by the 12 minute media timeout, they had committed seven fouls already.
The two teams traded baskets for the first 10 minutes. The largest lead by either team was three points during this stretch. Leads changed 12 times throughout the second half.
Xavier Johnson scored five points consecutively to bring SIU to their largest lead of the game with 9:38 remaining (60-55).
Raekwon Horton answered on the other end with a three of his own. Bickerstaff followed that up with a jumper, and Edwards Jr. finished through contact, making it a 72-67 game with 3:03 to go.
The Dukes, who had been shooting 72.8% FT on the season, went the first 34 minutes of the game shooting just 50% from the charity stripe (10-20).
Freidel drove to make it 74-69, this was answered by an SIU 3-pointer. Freidel fired back with a clutch three that would give the Dukes a cushion heading in the final minute of play.
Despite a slow start from the free throw line, Bickerstaff made his free throws in clutch time. He finished with 19 points, 7 rebounds, a block and a steal.
JMU was able to keep their lead, escaping with an 82-76 victory.
Edwards Jr. continued to lead the team as a scoring force, racking up 24 points to go with 6 rebounds, 5 assists, 3 steals, and a block against the Salukis.
Freidel and Wooden both finished with 10 points.
Xavier Johnson finished with 38 points for the Salukis.

WHAT'S NEXT

The #22 Dukes (5-0) advance to the Riviera Division Championship Game on Wednesday, where they will face the winner of tonight's New Mexico State and Fresno State game. The game will be broadcast on CBS Sports Network. Dave Riggert will also be on-air with the call via the JMU Radio Network 92.1 FM/550 AM and the Varsity Network App.