Picture courtesy of the Solar Belt Convention
By Bennett Conlin
JMU males's basketball turned in an NCAA Event workforce on Saturday night time, leaping previous Marshall within the first half and posting an 81-64 win over Solar Belt within the quarterfinals.
The Dukes (29-Three) simply defeated the Thundering Herd on a day of strange outcomes on the Solar Belt Event. High-ranked App wanted time beyond regulation to prime No. eight Georgia Southern and No. 11 Texas State upset No. Three Troy.
JMU has had no such issues, and the Dukes will face the 11th-seeded Bobcats tomorrow.
“For the primary 18 minutes, I assumed we performed completely unbelievable,” JMU head coach Mark Byington stated. “We had been able to play”
The Dukes have gained 11 straight video games, the longest energetic profitable streak within the nation.
Dominant opening innings
The Dukes opened up a 20-plus level lead within the first half as Michael Inexperienced III, Noah Freidel and Julien Wood hit early Three-pointers. TJ Bickerstaff was almost unstoppable down low, pushing for a double-double within the first half (eight factors and seven rebounds) and ending the sport with 11 factors and 11 rebounds.
Solar Belt Participant of the Yr Terrence Edwards completed with 18 factors, seven rebounds and 6 assists. He confirmed his versatility, scoring when the Dukes wanted key baskets and discovering his teammates with high quality passes.
“We're undefeated when he has 5 or extra assists,” Byington stated.
Byington is right, as JMU is an ideal 10-Zero when Edwards accumulates no less than 5 dimes. Inexperienced, Freidel, Wood, Edwards and Bickerstaff completed with double-digit scoring totals as Saturday's win featured an array of offensive expertise.
Defensively, JMU excelled. The Dukes held the Thundering Herd to 39.7 % capturing and compelled 13 turnovers. Marshall by no means discovered an offensive rhythm two days after dropping 86 on Georgia State.
It was a medical efficiency by JMU. Regardless that Marshall made some small runs within the second half, the Dukes led by no less than 10 factors over the ultimate 31 minutes of play.
It follows
JMU faces Texas State on Sunday at eight:30 PM ET with a spot within the Solar Belt Championship on the road. The sport will probably be broadcast on ESPN+.
Whereas the Bobcats are the No. 11, the quantity after their title is barely deceptive. They’re enjoying their greatest basketball of the season, profitable 10 of their final 13 video games. They’re Three-Zero towards App State and Troy in that span.
Nonetheless, enjoying in JMU's favor is the Bobcats' path so far. They’ve already performed in three convention tournaments, together with an time beyond regulation win. They’ll probably really feel no less than a contact of fatigue on Sunday, as 4 video games in six days can put on any workforce down.
JMU gained the one common season assembly between the groups, defeating the Bobcats 82-65 in Harrisonburg on Dec. 30. Byington doesn't put a lot inventory in that sport.
“The primary time we performed them is irrelevant,” Byington stated. “I feel it was the primary sport again after Christmas. We all know they're not the identical workforce and I don't suppose we're the identical workforce. Tomorrow it will likely be a problem for us to be the very best.”
Editor's Notice: Due to Three Notch'd Brewing for promoting help.
