JMU men’s, women’s basketball drop conference contests Wednesday night

MEN: Marshall 66, James Madison 64

HARRISONBURG, Va. (WHSV) - Noah Otshudi scored 16 points and Marshall withstood a late rally to defeat James Madison 66-64 on Wednesday night at the Atlantic Union Bank Center.

Marshall (11-5, 3-1 Sun Belt) led for more than 38 minutes and built a 13-point first-half advantage before James Madison chipped away after halftime. The Dukes cut the deficit to 64-62 with 2:21 remaining but were unable to complete the comeback.

Jalen Speer added 15 points for the Thundering Herd and made two free throws in the final seconds to seal the win. Wyatt Fricks scored 11 points, while Otshudi also grabbed five rebounds.

Marshall took control early with a 12-0 run after James Madison opened the scoring and carried a 36-25 lead into halftime. The Herd finished with 18 points off turnovers and committed just six of their own.

James Madison (8-8, 1-3) held Marshall without a field goal over the final 6:56 and limited the Herd to 38.3 percent shooting for the game. Justin McBride led the Dukes with 14 points, Eddie Ricks III scored 13, and Preston Fowler added 10 points and a team-high eight rebounds.

James Madison hosts Old Dominion on Saturday.

WOMEN: James Madison 70, Georgia Southern 78

STATESBORO, Ga. (WHSV) - Kishyah Anderson scored a game-high 26 points and Georgia Southern shot better than 55 percent from the field in a 78-70 victory over James Madison on Wednesday night at the Jack and Ruth Ann Hill Convocation Center.

Georgia Southern (11-4, 4-1 Sun Belt) built an early double-digit lead and pulled away late after James Madison closed within two points early in the fourth quarter. The Eagles went 8 of 11 from the field in the final period to seal the win.

James Madison (11-6, 3-2) trimmed a 13-point deficit to 53-51 late in the third quarter, but Georgia Southern answered with an 11-2 run to regain control. The Dukes were unable to get closer than six points the rest of the way.

Anderson finished 12 of 14 from the floor, while Destiny Garrett added 21 points for the Eagles. Shanti Simmons contributed nine points and 10 rebounds.

Four players scored in double figures for James Madison, led by Ashanti Barnes with 15 points. Bree Robinson and Zakiya Stephenson scored 14 apiece, and Peyton McDaniel added 10 points and a team-high seven rebounds.

James Madison travels to Georgia State on Saturday.