By Brenda June Temple
12/30/2023
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.
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.
COURTESY JMU ATHLETIC COMMUNICATIONS
