HARRISONBURG, Va. (JMU Athletics) – James Madison cut a 17-point deficit to four with two minutes remaining, but the Dukes were unable to complete the comeback bid, falling to South Alabama 90-83 at the Atlantic Union Bank Center on Thursday night.
JMU (9-11, 2-6 Sun Belt) trailed by as many as 16 (74-58) with 5:23 left but cut the South Alabama (14-6, 5-3 SBC) held off the Dukes to come away with the win.
The Dukes attempted a season-high 42 threes while turning the ball over 17 times, as the Jaguars scored 23 points off JMU’s miscues. Adam Olsen scored 26 points to lead South Alabama in scoring, while JJ Wheat (17), Chaze Harris (15), and Jayden Cooper (14) also reached double figures.
Along with McBride, the Dukes got 13 points from Cliff Davis while freshman Preston Fowler finished with 12 points and grabbed seven rebounds.
How It Happened
First Half: James Madison 40, South Alabama 36
• The Dukes jumped out to a 15-10 lead at the first media timeout, but the Jaguars went on an 11-3 run of their own to gain a 21-18 advantage.
• While the teams went back and forth for the remainder of the half, JMU entered the locker room holding a 40-36 lead as McBride scored 17 in the first 20 minutes of play.
Second Half: James Madison 83, South Alabama 90
• South Alabama started the second half with an 11-0 run in a span of four minutes to give the Jaguars a 47-40 lead with 15:56 left.
• Late in the game, the Dukes started to claw back, using a 13-3 run to cut the deficit to six with 2:26 on the clock.
• South Alabama converted 10 free throws in the final two minutes put James Madison away.
Game Notes
• Fowler finished with three assists, tying a career high. He also had three assists against Marshall on Jan. 17.
• Davis finished with six assists to set a new career high. He previously had five at McNeese State on Feb. 24.
• McBride’s 30 points mark his second game with 30 or more this season. He joins Denzel Bowles (3), Stuckey Mosley (3), Mark Freeman (3), and Denzel Bowles (3) as JMU players since 2010-11 with multiple 30-point games in a season.
— JMU Athletics —
