Dukes Cruise Past South Alabama, 89-55

Thursday, January 11

Harrisonburg, Va.

7 p.m.

James Madison University

15-1,3-1Sun Belt

South Alabama

8-8,1-3Sun Belt

South Alabama

James Madison

1/11/2024 9:57:00 PM | Men's Basketball

Box Score Photo Gallery

HARRISONBURG, Va. – Noah Freidel tied a season-high 26 points as James Madison men's basketball cruised to an 89-55 Sun Belt Conference win over South Alabama on Thursday evening inside the Atlantic Union Bank Center.

Freidel shot an efficient 9-of-13 (.692) from the field and recorded seven rebounds as JMU (15-1, 3-1 Sun Belt) led for nearly the entire contest. The Dukes shot 46 percent from the field and hit 11 3-pointers in the win. Terrence Edwards Jr. (14) and Julien Wooden (13) joined Friedel in double figures, while T.J. Bickerstaff corralled a team leading 10 rebounds.

Defensively, the Dukes held South Alabama (8-8, 1-3 SBC) to 37 percent from the field and 15 percent (4-of-26) from behind the arc and also forced 15 turnovers. JMU capitalized off the Jaguars' mistakes, finishing with 18 fastbreak points and 20 points off turnovers.

USA was led by Isiah Gaiter, who finished with 16 points. Samuel Tabe recorded 15 points, while Elijah Ormiston notched 10 points and a team leading seven rebounds.

How It Happened
First Half

Freidel scored JMU's first five points and the Dukes hit their first four shots to pull ahead 11-8 at the under-16 timeout.
USA tied the score at 13 with 14:07 left, but JMU used a 10-0 run and led 23-13 on a free throw from Edwards Jr.
Michael Green III hit a 3-pointer to give the Dukes a 36-23 lead with 4:34 remaining in the half.
Two more free throws from Bickerstaff gave JMU a 41-29 lead at the break.
South Alabama committed seven turnovers in the first half, and the Dukes took advantage, scoring 10 points off USA's mistakes.

Second Half

Freidel and Wooden hit consecutive 3-pointers to kick off the second half scoring, which gave the Dukes a 47-33 lead with 17:14 on the clock.
A breakaway slam from Wooden gave JMU a 60-38 lead, its largest lead of the contest with 13:49 left.
Another 3-pointer from Friedel with 7:29 remaining gave the Dukes a 76-44 lead and forced a Jaguar timeout.
JMU was able to clear its bench, as Jerrell Roberson capped off the Dukes' scoring with two free throws to make it 89-53 with 1:28 left.

Game Notes

With the victory, JMU improved to 3-4 all-time vs. South Alabama and 1-2 versus the Jaguars as league foes.
The 34-point win is the Dukes' largest margin of victory against an SBC opponent since joining the Sun Belt Conference last season. The previous high was a 21-point win (90-69) over Georgia State on Feb. 24, 2023.
Freidel's 26 points (9-of-13) ties his season-high. The graduate student also scored 26 vs. Fresno State on Nov. 22.
JMU held South Alabama to 15 percent (4-of-26) from behind the arc, the Jaguars' lowest percentage this season.
The Dukes outrebounded USA 48-28, the 13th time in 16 contests JMU has won the rebounding battle.
The +20 rebounding margin is JMU's highest vs. a Division I opponent this season. Moreover, the Dukes' 48 total rebounds are also the second-highest versus a DI opponent (51 vs. Michigan State).
Wooden finished with 13 points on 6-of-7 shooting, his highest total since Dec. 19 vs. Coppin State, when he also scored 13 points.
JMU dominated in fast break points (18-8), steals (12-4), and assists (21-9).
The Dukes' 12 steals are the fourth-highest team total this season. Michael Green III led JMU with three steals, while Bryant Randleman and Xavier Brown each recorded two.
Randleman led JMU with five assists. The Dukes assisted on 21 of 31 made field goals.
The Dukes' 89 points is their highest total in conference play this season. The previous best was 82 versus Texas State on Dec. 30.
The win marked JMU's eighth consecutive triumph at the Atlantic Union Bank Center dating back to Feb. 24, 2023, a 90-69 victory over Georgia State.

Up Next
The Dukes continue their four-game homestand, versus App State, this Saturday, Jan. 13 at 4 p.m. The game will stream on ESPN+ with Curt Dudley and Steve Buckhantz, and Davie Riggert will provide radio coverage on the JMU Radio Network 92.1 FM/550 AM and the Varsity Network App.