Freeman’s 26 Points Leads JMU Past Georgia Southern, 77-72

Thursday, February 13

Statesboro, Ga.

7 p.m.

James Madison University

16-10,9-4Sun Belt

Georgia Southern

13-13,5-8Sun Belt

James Madison

Ga. Southern

Freeman’s 26 Points Leads JMU Past Georgia Southern, 77-72

2/13/2025 10:29:00 PM | Men's Basketball

Box Score

STATESBORO, Ga. – James Madison redshirt senior Mark Freeman scored 26 points to lead James Madison men's basketball past Georgia Southern, 77-72, on Thursday night at the Jack and Ruth Ann Hill Convocation Center.

JMU improved to 16-10 and 9-4 in Sun Belt Conference play, winning its sixth consecutive conference game. Georgia Southern dropped to 13-13 and 5-8 in league games, dropping its third home contest (8-3) this season.

Freeman was one of three JMU players to finish in double figures, as the native of Memphis finished an efficient 10-of-16 (.625) from the field. The Dukes shot 48.2 percent from the floor and knocked down 13 three-pointers in the win – led by a career-high six made threes from Xavier Brown. Redshirt freshman Bryce Lindsay added 14 points for his eighth double-figure showing in the past nine games.

Adante Holiman led Georgia Southern (13-13, 5-8 SBC) with 22 points on 6-of-12 shooting, including six three-pointers. Tyson Brown led the Eagles with 11 boards while pitching in eight points, and Nakavieon White dished out a team-high five assists.

How It Happened
First Half: James Madison 37, Georgia Southern 32

JMU jumped to a 12-7 lead at the first media timeout as they started 4-of-6 from the floor.
The teams traded respective 10-0 runs, as Georgia Southern scored 10 straight in just under two minutes to take a 17-12 lead before the Dukes rattled off a 10-0 run to go back ahead 22-17 with just under 10 minutes left.
JMU held Georgia Southern scoreless for over three minutes and took an eight-point lead (33-25) on an alley-oop finish from Ebenezer Dowuona.
Two free throws from Freeman gave the Dukes a 37-32 lead going into the break.

Second Half: James Madison 40, Georgia Southern 40

JMU opened the second half with a Lindsay steal leading to a Brown triple to push the Dukes lead to eight at 40-32.
The Eagles fought back and took their first lead at 59-58 with nine minutes to go.
The lead was short-lived, with back-to-back buckets from Freeman and Brown and a fast-break layup from Lindsay putting the Dukes back up 66-63 with 6:51 to play.
The Eagles did not get closer than two, as JMU held Georgia Southern to just one field goal the rest of the way and closed the door for the 77-72 win.

Game Notes

JMU is now 4-1 against Georgia Southern. Coach Spradlin moved to 2-0 against the Eagles after facing GSU on Dec. 1, 2021, while the head coach at Morehead State.
The Dukes improved to 3-7 in road games this season, while Georgia Southern fell to 8-3.
JMU tied its season-high in made threes, finishing 13-of-29 (.448) from deep.
JMU recorded a 10-0 run in the first half, turning a 17-12 deficit to a 22-17 lead in 3:09 of game time It is the Dukes' 12th double-digit run this season.
Freeman's 26 points are his eighth straight double-figure outing and 18th overall this season. It is also his fourth game this season with 25 points or more.
Georgia Southern used a 10-0 run to take a 17-12 lead in the first half. It is the sixth double-digit run the Dukes have allowed this season. In those games, JMU is now 2-5.
Brown became the eighth different JMU player since 2009 to make six threes at 60 percent or greater (6-10) while also grabbing six rebounds in a single game.
AJ Smith finished with seven rebounds and is now averaging 7.2 boards in his past five games.