In a historic season where James Madison racked up a program-record 32 wins, the Dukes never had to play just for show. Despite facing power-conference teams, they consistently proved their mettle, taking down the likes of Michigan State and Wisconsin. As a No. 12 seed in the NCAA men’s basketball tournament, they felt overlooked, but their performance spoke volumes.
However, every story has its first time, and for JMU, it came in a tough 93-55 loss to Duke in the round of 32. The Dukes fought to the end, hustling on offense and defense, but Duke, with its blue-blooded pedigree, proved too formidable. Freshman guard Jared McCain was on fire, scoring 30 points, including 8 three-pointers.
The game took a turn early on when JMU's Terrence Edwards Jr. got into foul trouble. This, coupled with Duke's sharpshooting and dominance in the paint, quickly put JMU on the back foot. Even a timeout, marked by a mascot dance-off, couldn't slow down Duke's momentum.
Despite their best efforts, the Dukes couldn't find a way back into the game. Duke's relentless offense and stifling defense kept JMU at bay. Even as JMU's Noah Freidel tried to rally his team with a three-pointer, the deficit proved too much to overcome.
As the final buzzer sounded, JMU was left to reflect on a remarkable season that saw them dominate their conference and make a name for themselves on the national stage. While the loss stings, they can take pride in their journey and look forward to what lies ahead.
Login