HARRISONBURG, Va. (JMU Athletics) – James Madison overcame a 13-point first-half deficit to upend Arkansas State, 67-62, on Saturday afternoon at the Atlantic Union Bank Center.

After battling back from a 39-26 deficit in the first half, Elijah Hutchins-Everett hit a three-pointer to spark a 10-0 run for JMU (9-6, 2-1 SBC) to take control of the game in the second half to snap a six-game winning streak for Arkansas State (11-4, 2-1 SBC).

Xavier Brown (18) and Hutchins-Everett (17) combined for 35 points on 14-of-26 (.538) shooting to lead the Dukes’ offense. JMU held a commanding 41-30 edge on the boards, with AJ Smith and Eddie Ricks III reeling in nine apiece.

After scoring 39 points and shooting 47.2 (17-of-36) percent in the first half, The Red Wolves were held to 23 second-half points, their lowest in a half this season. Taryn Todd led A-State with 26 points while Joseph Pinion chipped in with 15 points.

How It Happened
First Half: Arkansas State 39, James Madison 33
• Brown scored JMU’s first eight points, but Arkansas State pulled ahead 16-8 on a fast-break layup from Todd.
• After five consecutive field goals from the Dukes, the lead was trimmed to two (25-23) on a layup from Brown. However, Arkansas State scored 10 of the next 11 points to force a JMU timeout with the score 35-24 with 3:20 left.
• The Dukes fell behind 39-26 but stormed into the half with seven consecutive points to trail only by six (39-33) at the break.

Second Half: James Madison 67, Arkansas St. 62
• JMU took its first lead of the second half with 12:31 left when Hutchins-Everett scored off an Arkansas State turnover to make it 46-45.
• With the score tied 55-55, JMU scored the next six points to take a 61-55 lead on a layup from Hutchins-Everett.
• Despite going 3:39 without a field goal late in the game, Mark Freeman made a free throw with 14 seconds remaining to give JMU a three-point lead.
• After Arkansas State missed a free throw in the final seconds, Ricks III secured the rebound, was fouled, and made both free throws to seal JMU’s 67-62 win.

Game Notes
• James Madison improved to 5-0 against Arkansas State all time.
• After a season-high 12 turnovers in the first half, the Dukes committed only three turnovers in the second half.
• The attendance at Saturday’s game was 5,079, the second-highest this season (Ohio, 5,973).
• Arkansas State came into the game 9-0 leading at the half. Additionally, JMU improved to 1-3 trailing at half.
• The Red Wolves finished 3-of-8 (.375) from the free throw line, 14 below their season average of of 17.0 free throws per game.
• A-State’s 23 second-half points was six lower than its previous low, which was 28 in the first half against UAB on Dec. 15.
• The Dukes trailed by as many as 13 (39-26) in the first half. It is the biggest deficit overcome for JMU since coming back from a 19-point deficit at Georgia Southern on Feb. 24, 2024.
• JMU used a 10-0 run in two minutes and 53 seconds (52-55 to 62-55) to swing the momentum. It is the Dukes ninth run of 10-0 or greater this season.

Up Next
JMU will hit the road for a pair of games against Marshall (Jan. 9) and App State (Jan. 11). Both games will air on WSVA 92.1 | 550 AM with Dave Riggert.

— JMU Athletics —