Edwards Jr. hits milestone, No. 20 James Madison stays unbeaten with 89-75 win over Morgan State

BALTIMORE — James Madison has already achieved a pair huge milestones as a workforce this season.

Now Terrence Edwards Jr. has a person one.

Edwards scored 29 factors to surpass 1,000 for his profession and the Twentieth-ranked Dukes will enter convention play undefeated after an 89-75 victory over Morgan State on Friday.

“I was only able to play two years in high school, so I was like 40 points short,” Edwards stated. “I told myself I was going to get it in college, and today was the day.”

The Dukes (12-0) are one in all three Division I males’s groups which have but to lose, together with No. 3 Houston and No. 25 Mississippi. James Madison started the season with an additional time victory at then-No. 4 Michigan State, and after outlasting Kent State in double OT, the Dukes entered the Top 25 for the primary time.

They haven’t slowed down since, and now they’ll attempt to proceed their unbeaten run in opposition to their convention opponents within the Sun Belt. Their nonconference schedule isn’t utterly accomplished, nonetheless. James Madison has a Feb. 10 sport – in opposition to an opponent to be decided – that’s a part of a problem collection between the Sun Belt and the Mid-American Conference.

Morgan State (4-10) led 19-18 earlier than James Madison went on a 14-0 run that included 10 factors by Julien Wooden. It was 47-35 at halftime.

The Bears began impressively within the second half and really took a short lead at 58-56 on a three-point play by Will Thomas.

“I feel like we’ve dealt with distractions all the time. Rankings, predictions, and everything we’re dealing with,” stated James Madison coach Mark Byington, whose workforce is off to one of the best begin in program historical past. “Our guys need a break. It’s a long run, and I know they’re looking forward to Christmas. I am too. But what you can’t do is you can’t start opening candy canes at halftime, which we might have a little bit too early.”

James Madison proved too good offensively, surpassing 80 factors for the eighth straight sport. The Dukes entered with the highest scoring common within the nation at 92.9 factors per sport.

“When you’re good, you figure out a way to win,” Morgan State coach Kevin Broadus stated. “That’s what I think they did today.”

Thomas scored 20 factors for Morgan State.

BIG PICTURE

James Madison: This wasn’t a very convincing efficiency by the Dukes, however the general accomplishment – making it to Christmas unbeaten – is one this system ought to savor.

“Just because we’re 12-0 doesn’t mean we haven’t been knocked back,” Byington stated. “We’ve been knocked back sometimes, and we come back harder, and I hope we keep that in January and February and March.”

Morgan State: With main scorer Wynston Tabbs injured, the Bears had been nonetheless capable of hold powerful in a uncommon alternative in opposition to a ranked workforce at house. The tempo of the sport didn’t appear to trouble Morgan State.

MILESTONE MOMENT

Edwards, in his fourth season taking part in for James Madison, wanted 27 factors to succeed in 1,000. He received there when he scored inside to make it 83-70.

UP NEXT

James Madison: Hosts Texas State on Dec. 30.

Morgan State: At No. 22 Virginia on Wednesday.

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AP faculty basketball: https://apnews.com/hub/ap-top-25-college-basketball-poll and https://apnews.com/hub/college-basketball