Xavier Brown scored a career-high 21 factors to go together with 10 rebounds and No. 2 seed James Madison eased by No. 4 seed Arkansas State 91-71 on Monday night time to assert the Solar Belt Convention Event championship and earn its first NCAA Event bid since 2013.
James Madison (31-3), which outlasted Texas State within the semifinals to notch its first 30-win season in program historical past, prolonged its successful streak to 13 video games. The Dukes started the season on a 14-game successful streak, beginning with an additional time victory over then-No. 4 Michigan State.
[Related: James Madison’s magical run fueled by family and belief]
Arkansas State (18-16), in its first Solar Belt championship recreation look since 2007, was looking for its first NCAA Event berth since 1999.
Brown, averaging 6.1 factors per recreation, scored 19 factors within the opening 14 minutes, together with 13 straight James Madison factors, to assist construct a 30-23 lead. He made his first seven pictures earlier than lacking a 3-pointer with 5:22 left. Brown completed the half with 21, topping his earlier greatest scoring whole of 17 towards Hampton on Dec. 16.
Noah Freidel made two 3-pointers within the opening three minutes of the second half, together with a four-point play, and Terrence Edwards added one other 3, following an offensive rebound, to make it 54-39 with 16:09 left.
Edwards, the Solar Belt participant of the 12 months, completed with 19 factors for JMU. Jaylen Carey scored 13 and Freidel had 12. The Dukes completed 11 of 19 from distance.
Freddy Hicks, who made a game-winner within the semifinals towards top-seeded Appalachian State, scored 24 factors for Arkansas State. Izaiyah Nelson had 12 factors and 12 rebounds. Caleb Fields and Taryn Todd every had 10 factors and 5 assists.
Reporting by The Related Press.
Xavier Brown
James Madison Dukes
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