Strong Second Half Leads JMU Past Texas State, 82-65

Saturday, December 30

Harrisonburg, Va.

2 p.m.

James Madison University

13-0,1-0Sun Belt

Texas State

6-7,0-1Sun Belt

Texas St.

James Madison

12/30/2023 5:09:00 PM | Men's Basketball

Box Score Photo Gallery

HARRISONBURG, Va. – T.J. Bickerstaff recorded his fourth double-double of the season with 21 points and 10 rebounds, as James Madison men's basketball used a strong second half to cruise past Texas State 82-65 in its Sun Belt Conference Opener on Saturday afternoon at the Atlantic Union Bank Center.

No. 20 JMU (13-0, 1-0 SBC) held a slim 36-28 lead at halftime but opened up the lead with a 15-2 run out of the break. The lead grew to as many as 27 as the Dukes cruised for their program-record 13th consecutive win to open the 2023-24 season.

Joining Bickerstaff in double figures was Terrence Edwards Jr., who finished with 17 points, while Noah Freidel and Raekwon Horton each pitched in with 11 points of their own. As a team, JMU shot 52 percent from the field and made nine triples.

Defensively, JMU held Texas State (6-7, 0-1 SBC) to 42 percent from the field, while also forcing 14 turnovers. The Dukes recorded seven steals, which led to 16 fast break points.

Coleton Benson led Texas State with 19 points, all of which came in the second half, along with nailing four three-pointers.

How It Happened
First Half

JMU jumped on Texas State in the first four minutes, leading 12-4 at the first media timeout thanks to two 3-pointers from Julien Wooden.
A Bobcats three-pointer cut the JMU lead to 17-13, but a layup from Bickerstaff, two free throws from Edwards Jr., and a layup from Horton put the Dukes back ahead 23-15 with 8:24 on the clock.
After Texas State cut the deficit to four (28-24) with 3:49 left, Edwards Jr. and Noah Freidel secured layups and Bickerstaff picked up a breakaway dunk, putting JMU ahead 34-28.
The Dukes went into the half up 36-28

Second Half

Another strong start to the half saw JMU gain its largest lead (47-30) with 14:55 remaining.
A Bickerstaff layup put the Dukes ahead 56-37, but Texas State hit consecutive three-pointers to cut the lead to 56-43 and force a JMU timeout.
JMU responded with a 7-0 run, highlighted by a three-pointer from Freidel, a second-chance layup from Bickerstaff, and a jumper from Michael Green III.
The Dukes cruised from there, with Horton capping off the scoring with his second 3-pointer of the day.

Game Notes

JMU's 13 wins to open the 2023-24 campaign is a new record for consecutive wins. Previously, the Dukes had reached 12 consecutive wins three times.
With the win, JMU tied Texas State 1-1 in the all-time series.
JMU's 82 points marks the 11th time in 13 contests scoring over 80 points. Moreover, the Dukes average 91.77 points per game.
Bickerstaff picked up his fourth 20-point game and double-double of the season with 21 points and 10 rebounds. In 13 games, the fifth-year forward is second on JMU with 16.2 ppg and leads the Dukes with 8.3 rpg.
Edwards Jr's 17-point effort was the 50th time the junior has scored in double figures for his career.
JMU finished with more rebounds (36-34) and points in the paint (46-30).
Through 13 games, JMU's average scoring margin of +19.8 would set a new school record.

Up Next
JMU begins a two-game road trip when the Dukes will face Louisiana on Thursday, Jan. 4 at 8 p.m. The game will be broadcast on ESPN+, while Dave Riggert will provide radio coverage on the JMU Radio Network 92.1 FM/550 AM and the Varsity Network App.