DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. – Redshirt freshman Bryce Lindsay scored a career-high 28 points, including 23 in the first half, to lead James Madison men’s basketball past UIC, 99-81, on Thursday afternoon at the Boardwalk Battle inside the Ocean Center.
The Dukes (3-2) advance to the second round of the Boardwalk Battle to take on the winner of La Salle and UC San Diego at 3:30 p.m. on Nov. 22.
Lindsay became the first freshman and 25th Division-I player overall since at least 2004-05 to record 25 points with 10 made field goals at 90 percent or better (10-11), five 3-pointers, and five rebounds in a single game. Mark Freeman (14), Eddie Ricks III (12), AJ Smith (12), and Elijah Hutchins-Everett (11) joined Lindsay in double figures, the first time five JMU players have eclipsed 10 or more points in the same game since March 9, 2024 against Marshall.
JMU shot 53.1 percent from the field, scoring the most points versus a Division I opponent since racking up 105 against Coastal Carolina on Feb. 1, 2024. UIC (3-2) shot 52 percent from the field but turned the ball over 16 times, as JMU racked up a season-high 13 steals and scored 23 points off turnovers.
Ahmad Henderson II led UIC with 17 points and four assists. Sasa Ciani had 15 points and nine rebounds, and Jordan Mason had 10 points off the bench for the Flames.
How It Happened
First Half: James Madison 45, UIC 41
- JMU couldn’t connect on its first three attempts from beyond the arc as UIC jumped to an 11-4 lead in the opening minutes.
- The Dukes then used a 9-2 run, capped by a Freeman three-pointer to knot things up at 13 at the 12:19 mark of the first.
- The two squads traded leads for the next several minutes to find the game tied at 28 again with just over six minutes to play in the half.
- UIC built a six-point lead with 4:21 to play in the half (34-28) before three straight field goals from Lindsay tied things up again at 38 with just under two minutes in the half.
- Lindsay then connected on back-to-back threes for a quick six-point advantage for JMU before going into the half up four, 45-41. He finished the half with 23 points and a perfect 9-for-9 mark from the field and 4-4 from deep.
Second Half: James Madison 54, UIC 40
- JMU opened the second half on a 12-5 run to build an 11-point lead, capped off by a hook shot from Hutchins-Everett at the 16:42 mark.
- UIC would quickly cut the lead to just eight with just over 16 minutes remaining, but the Dukes responded with another triple from Lindsay to push the lead back to 11.
- UIC then cut it to three at 60-57 with just over 12 minutes to play, but a Justin Taylor steal feeding a Noah Williams layup sparked an 11-0 run to make it 71-57 Dukes with 8:34 to play.
- UIC couldn’t cut the deficit into single digits the rest of the way, with the Dukes extending their lead to as many as 20 as they hung on for their third win.
Game Notes
- JMU is now 1-0 all-time against UIC.
- The Dukes outrebounded the Flames 38-31 and secured 14 offensive rebounds.
- JMU scored 55 points off the bench, led by Bryce Linday’s 28-point outburst.
- The 13 steals are the most for JMU since recording 14 against Wisconsin on March 22, 2024.
- The 54 points scored in the second half are the most for JMU in a half this season.
- Through five games, Freeman is averaging 4.5 assists per contest. The redshirt senior finished with seven assists for the second time this season.
Up Next
JMU will play the winner of UC San Diego versus La Salle tomorrow at 3:30 p.m. from the Ocean Center on day two of the Boardwalk Battle. The game will be streamed on BallerTV (subscription required) and on the airwaves on WSVA 92.1 FM | 550 AM and the Varsity Network App with Corey Spector.
