In a shocking turn of events, James Madison traveled to Trojan Arena and handed Troy a 73-64 defeat, pulling off a significant upset. The Dukes, ranked 231st in the net rankings, took down the 102nd-ranked Trojans, proving that they can compete with tougher opponents. This victory is a massive boost to James Madison's resume, especially considering it was a Quadrant 2 win for the Dukes.
The game got off to a competitive start, with James Madison taking a 31-28 lead into halftime. Troy's Victor Valdes was impressive in the first half, scoring 10 points and dishing out 3 assists to keep the Trojans within striking distance. However, James Madison's Cliff Davis was unstoppable, scoring 12 points in the first half to pace the Dukes. Davis finished the game with 23 points, leading all scorers and cementing his status as a key player for James Madison.
The second half saw James Madison pull away, outscoring Troy 42-36. The Dukes' Bradley Douglas and Eddie Ricks III provided crucial support, scoring 14 and 12 points, respectively. Ricks also grabbed 10 rebounds, helping James Madison control the boards. On the other side, Troy's Thomas Dowd and Theo Seng had solid games, with Dowd recording a double-double (12 points, 10 rebounds) and Seng adding 11 points and 8 rebounds. However, it wasn't enough to overcome the Dukes' balanced attack.
CHD Scout Report Card
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This upset is even more surprising given that CHD Scout predicted a 10.3-point victory for Troy, with a predicted score of 84-74. Instead, James Madison's strong performance led to a 9-point win, defying expectations. The loss is a Quadrant 4 defeat for Troy, which could have real consequences for their tournament chances.
The implications of this result are substantial, particularly for James Madison. The Dukes' win over a top-100 team in Troy is a major resume booster, and it could help them make a push for a postseason berth. On the other hand, Troy's loss to a lower-ranked team could hurt their chances of earning a high seed in the tournament. As the season enters its final stretch, both teams want to build on this result and make a strong case for themselves.
For James Madison, this win is a reflection of their ability to compete with tougher opponents. The Dukes' victory over Troy is a significant upset, and it will undoubtedly be a key talking point when discussing their tournament chances. With this Quadrant 2 win, James Madison has significantly improved its resume, and the team want to build on this momentum in the coming weeks.