Men's Hoops Rolls Past Eastern Mennonite

Thursday, December 2

Harrisonburg, Va.

7 p.m.

James Madison University

7-2,0-0CAA

Eastern Mennonite

3-4,1-0ODAC

East. Mennonite

James Madison

12/2/2021 10:48:00 PM | Men's Basketball

Box Score Box Score Photo Gallery

HARRISONBURG, Va. - James Madison bounced back from a tough opening half on Thursday evening, cruising in the second period as the Dukes picked up a 96-54 victory over Eastern Mennonite in non-conference men's basketball at the Atlantic Union Bank Center.

After struggling from the field through the first 20 minutes, the Dukes hit at a 62.8% clip in the second half and forced 27 turnovers on the evening to improve to 7-2 for the first time since the 2007-08 campaign.

Graduate student Takal Molson led the way on Thursday with a stellar evening, posting his first JMU double-double with 25 points and 11 rebounds, while adding four assists and three steals without a turnover through 24 minutes. The performance included 17 points, eight rebounds and two assists across just 10 minutes in the second half.

Junior guard Vado Morse tallied 15 points of his own, including 13 after halftime, while forward Alonzo Sule racked up 12 points and eight boards.

HOW IT HAPPENED
First Half
The Dukes started cold from the field, missing their first six shots as EMU took a 12-4 lead. JMU would hit nine of its next 12, however, scoring 18 straight points to take a 22-12 lead.

EMU would battle back late in the half, slowing the Dukes' run and closing the half on a 13-0 stretch of its own to take a 33-31 lead into the break.

Second Half
Terell Strickland set the tone for the second half early, stealing the opening inbounds pass and laying in the fast break layup to tie things up and launch JMU on a scoring tear. The Dukes opened the half with 11 straight points, then answered an EMU dunk with eight more to make it 50-35.

After a three-pointer from the Royals, JMU shut the door emphatically with 26 straight points to make it 76-38 with 6:57 to play and push the total run to 45-5 out of halftime. EMU would not get closer than 36 the rest of the way.

QUICK HITS
- Junior guard Jalen Hodge hit a pair of three-pointers to move his season rate to 51.5% from long range while adding a career-high six assists
- The Dukes racked up 16 more steals, giving them 104 on the season, the second-highest total in the country.
- JMU's 26-0 run in the second half is its longest scoring run of the season.

UP NEXT
The Dukes remain home on the other side of the weekend, welcoming in-state foe Virginia to the Atlantic Union Bank Center for the biggest game in the facility's short history. The Cavaliers are 5-3 on the season, with their Atlantic Coast Conference opener still to come on Friday night against Pittsburgh.