Championship Central | Box Score
PENSACOLA, Fla. – Sophomore guard Xavier Brown scored all of his career-high 21 points in the first half and grabbed a personal-best 10 rebounds to lead James Madison to a 91-71 victory over Arkansas State in the 2024 Hercules Tires Sun Belt Men’s Basketball Championship on Monday evening at the Pensacola Bay Center.
James Madison (31-3) earns the Sun Belt Conference’s automatic berth to the NCAA Tournament. For the Dukes, it marks their first Sun Belt Conference title, as they will make their sixth March Madness appearance in program history. Their 31 wins are the most in a season in league history, surpassing the 30 wins by Little Rock during the 2015-16 campaign.
Brown made his first seven shots from the floor, including five 3-pointers, as part of his first-career double-double. He also added three assists and a pair of steals. Redshirt junior swingman Terrence Edwards Jr. added 19 points with five assists and redshirt senior guard Noah Freidel scored 12 points, while freshman forward Jaylen Carey shot 6-for-7 to finish with 13 points off the bench.
The Dukes’ 91 points were the most in a Sun Belt men’s basketball championship game since South Alabama scored 95 in 2006. JMU shot 35-for-65 (.625) overall and 11-for-19 (.579) beyond the arc while committing just seven turnovers on the night. The 20-point margin of victory was the widest in the conference’s title game since 2016.
Brown got scorching hot from the floor during his 7-for-7 start which included a scoring spree that included 13-consecutive points by the Williamsburg, Va., native to build a 30-23 lead.
After taking a 42-32 advantage into halftime, James Madison scored at will during the second half, shooting an impressive 19-for-27 (.704) from the floor and 5-for-7 (.714) from deep while holding the Red Wolves to just 44 percent shooting in the period.
Arkansas State placed five scorers in double figures, led by all-tournament team selection and junior guard Freddy Hicks’ game-high 24 points. Sophomore forward Izaiyah Nelson registered a double-double with 12 points, 12 rebounds and four blocks, while sophomore guard Derrian Ford added 12 points. Senior guard and all-tournament team choice Caleb Fields, as well as junior guard Taryn Todd contributed 10 points apiece.
James Madison extended its advantage to more than 20 points when Michael Green III netted a 3-pointer to make it 72-51 with 10:39 remaining.
2024 Hercules Tires Sun Belt Men’s Basketball Championship All-Tournament Team
Most Outstanding Player: Noah Freidel, James Madison
Terrence Edwards Jr., James Madison
Caleb Fields, Arkansas State
Freddy Hicks, Arkansas State
Donovan Gregory, App State
Jordan Mason, Texas State
2024 Hercules Tires Sun Belt Men’s Basketball Championship
Tuesday, March 5
Game 1 – (13) Coastal Carolina 75, (12) ULM 71
Game 2 – (11) Texas State 92, (14) Old Dominion 83 (OT)
Thursday, March 7
Game 3 – (9) Georgia Southern 76, (8) South Alabama 71
Game 4 – (5) Louisiana 80, (13) Coastal Carolina 66
Game 5 – (11) Texas State 75, (6) Southern Miss 59
Game 6 – (10) Marshall 86, (7) Georgia State 74
Saturday, March 9
Game 7 – (1) App State 85, (9) Georgia Southern 80 (OT)
Game 8 – (4) Arkansas State 89, (5) Louisiana 62
Game 9 – (11) Texas State 74, (3) Troy 68
Game 10 – (2) James Madison 81, (10) Marshall 64
Sunday, March 10
Game 11 – (4) Arkansas State 67, (1) App State 65
Game 12 – (2) James Madison 73, (11) Texas State 68
Monday, March 11 (Championship)
Game 13 – (2) James Madison 91, (4) Arkansas State 71