James Madison University | Official Athletics Site

NORFOLK, Va. – T.J. Bickerstaff recorded a double-double with 21 points and 12 rebounds as James Madison men's basketball secured its best start in school history (9-0) with an 84-69 win over Old Dominion in front of a Chartway Arena record 8,504 spectators in Norfolk, Va., Saturday evening.
 
The high-flying Dukes shot 54 percent (34-of-63) from the field in the win, as four players scored in double-figures. Along with Bickerstaff's 21, Michael Green III had 13 points and nine assists, while Terrence Edwards Jr. and Jaylen Carey also scored 13 points to aid JMU in the win.
 
Defensively, JMU held ODU to 36 percent from the field, its second straight game holding an opponent to under 40 percent. Led by Bickerstaff's 12 rebounds, the Dukes were also able to out-rebound the Monarchs 42-36 while corralling 11 offensive rebounds. Green III tallied a season-high nine assists, while Edwards Jr pitched in four rebounds and three blocks.   
 
Old Dominion's Chaunce Jenkins led the Monarchs with 19 points, while Vasean Allette added 14 points and six rebounds.
 
How It Happened
First Half
 

• Bickerstaff rattled off five points in the game's opening minute, giving JMU a 5-2 lead in the early stages.
• The Monarchs hit their first field goal of the game nearly five minutes into play, with the Dukes still up five (9-5).
• Jaylen Carey provided a spark off the bench, scoring four straight points to give JMU a 16-7 lead. Bryant Randleman hit a jumper, extending the Dukes' lead to 18-7 at the under-12 media timeout. Bickerstaff and Carey combined for 12 of JMU's 16 points. 
• The Dukes held ODU to 21 percent (3-of-14) shooting through the game's first 10 minutes, as a layup from Bickerstaff capped off a 9-0 run and gave JMU a 20-7 lead with 10:48 remaining in the half.
• Michael Green III and Xavier Brown kicked off a flurry of scoring, nailing 3-pointers before Raekwon Horton added a layup which made the score 42-21 and forced an ODU timeout with 3:30 to go in the half.
• Noah Freidel, who was held scoreless up until the final minute of play, knocked down a three with 45 seconds left, making it 50-26. The Dukes took a 50-30 lead into the break.

 Second Half
 

• Out of the break, a 3-pointer from Edwards Jr, a layup from Freidel, and a slam from Bickerstaff made it 57-33 with 16 minutes remaining. With the dunk, Bickerstaff reached a double-double (15 points, 11 rebounds).
• The Dukes' strong defense continued, holding ODU to 31 percent (5-of-16) shooting through the first 10 minutes of the frame.
• Edwards Jr. added a pair of free throws, giving the Dukes their largest lead (69-45) of the contest with 10:11 remaining.
• ODU cut the lead to 14 (77-63) on a layup from Jason Wade, but JMU cruised to its ninth straight victory.

 
 Game Notes
 

• With tonight's win in Norfolk, JMU now leads ODU, 5.5 to 2.5, in the TowneBank Royal Rivalry Challenge. The Dukes have also won all six basketball matchups between the men's and women's programs dating back to last season.

• JMU held an 18-6 advantage in assists, led by Green III's nine. Through nine games, the graduate student is averaging 4.1 assists per game.
• JMU shot over 54 percent in the game, fueled by their 58.8 percent in the first half.
• On the boards, JMU outrebounded ODU 42-36, the sixth time in nine contests where the Dukes outrebounded its opponent.
• The Dukes won their fifth straight over the Monarchs, cutting into ODU's lead in the all-time series (58-31).
• Jaylen Carey's 13 points mark the second straight game where the freshman big has reached double-figures. The forward scored a career-high 16 points vs. Keystone (Dec. 1).

 
Up Next
JMU will get a week off from action before traveling to take on the Hampton Pirates next Saturday, Dec. 16. Tipoff is set for 2 p.m. and will be streamed on FloHoops (subscription required). Dave Riggert will provide radio coverage through the JMU Radio Network 92.1 FM/550 AM and the Varsity Network App.