McBride Scores 33, Dukes Escape Norfolk State, 68-67

Saturday, December 6

Harrisonburg, Va.

2 p.m.

James Madison University

7-4,0-0Sun Belt

Norfolk State

4-6,0-0MEAC

Norfolk St.

James Madison

12/6/2025 5:28:00 PM | Men's Basketball

Box Score Photo Gallery

HARRISONBURG, Va. – Justin McBride scored a career-high and Atlantic Union Bank Center record 33 points to lead James Madison men's basketball to a 68-67 win over the Norfolk State Spartans on Saturday afternoon.

McBride's 33 points came on 12-of-21 (.571) shooting, knocking down three 3-pointers and adding eight rebounds. He is the first JMU (7-4) player to score 30 since Mark Freeman had 34 against Troy on March 9.

33 points is also an Atlantic Union Bank Center record, surpassing the previous mark of 32 points, which was scored by Vado Morse against Charleston on Jan. 22, 2022, and Marko Maletic of LIU on Dec. 18, 2022.

Bradley Douglas and Gabe Newhof each scored the 2,000th point of their careers, finishing with six and five points, respectively. Douglas also led the Dukes with six assists as JMU finished with 13 assists to just eight turnovers.

Three Norfolk State (4-6) players finished in double figures, as Elijah Jamison and Devon Ellis each had 17 points to lead the Spartans. Keyontae Lewis also added 13 points, while Jordan Leaks recorded 10 rebounds.

How It Happened
First Half: James Madison 35, Norfolk State 32

The Dukes jumped ahead early, racing out to an 8-2 lead with Ricks III contributing a pair of buckets in the paint.
After NSU cut the deficit to three, seven unanswered points capped by a Douglas three allowed JMU to grow its lead to 10 at the 13:46 mark. The lead eventually grew to 11 (24-13) with 10:37 left, the Dukes' largest of the game.
The Spartans held the Dukes without a field goal for the final 2:32 of the half, scoring seven unanswered to chop the Dukes' lead to three at the break.

Second Half: James Madison, Norfolk State

After JMU grabbed a four-point advantage on the heels of a Preston Fowler three, Norfolk State answered with a three of their own to trail by one at the first media timeout.
The Spartans took their first lead of the game at the 13:31 mark with a second-chance layup from Keyontae Lewis to make the score 45-44.
After a trio of lead changes, a McBride three and a pair of free throws from Gabe Newhof let the Dukes reclaim the lead with just over six minutes to go.

Game Notes

JMU led 35-32 at halftime, improving to 22-8 under Spradlin when leading at half and 6-2 this season.
McBride has now scored in double figures 10 times in 11 games this season and is averaging 17.3 points per game. He has scored 20 points four times along with his 33-point outing today.
JMU won its first game against Norfolk State in three tries, evening the all-time series 3-3.

Up Next
JMU will begin Sun Belt Conference play on Wednesday, Dec. 17, at 7 p.m. against the Old Dominion Monarchs in Norfolk, Va.