HARRISONBURG, Va. (Interstat) — A blistering first-half shooting display propelled James Madison to a decisive 82-57 victory over Texas State in a Sun Belt Conference men’s basketball game Saturday at the JMU Convocation Center.

The Dukes, snapping a three-game losing streak, improved to 10-11 overall. The Bobcats fell to 11-11.

The most critical phase of the contest was a dominant stretch by James Madison late in the first half that effectively decided the outcome. Leading 31-28 with just over three minutes remaining before halftime, the Dukes unleashed a 16-3 run to seize a commanding 47-31 advantage at the break. The surge was fueled by a relentless three-point assault and stifling defense.

Cliff Davis and Justin McBride were the catalysts during the game-changing sequence. Davis, who finished with 18 points, drilled two three-pointers in the final 2:14 of the half, while McBride added another. The Dukes connected on 10 of their 14 three-point attempts in the opening period, shooting a scorching 71.4% from beyond the arc. That perimeter efficiency, combined with a defense that held Texas State to 32.1% shooting from the field in the half, created an insurmountable gap.

James Madison’s offensive execution was starkly superior throughout. The Dukes scored 82 points on just 61 possessions, an elite offensive rating of 133.9. They finished the game 30 of 57 from the field (52.6%) and 14 of 32 from three-point range. Texas State, by contrast, managed only 57 points on 66 possessions, an offensive rating of 86.4. The Bobcats shot 33.3% overall (19 of 57) and were a frigid 4 of 17 from three-point territory.

McBride, a 6-foot-7 forward from Plano, Texas, led all scorers with 18 points, adding five rebounds and two assists. His performance provided a steadying force for the Dukes. Davis matched McBride’s 18 points, all coming on six three-pointers. Bradley Douglas contributed 13 points and five assists, and Christian Brown anchored the interior with nine rebounds and two blocks.

Texas State was led by Mark Drone’s 17 points. DJ Hall added 14 points and three assists, while Kaden Gumbs tallied nine points, four rebounds and four assists in a team-high 40 minutes. The Bobcats were hampered by their inability to keep pace with James Madison’s shooting or generate consistent offense inside, scoring only 22 points in the paint.

The second half offered no reprieve for the visitors. James Madison opened the period with a three-pointer from McBride and maintained a lead of at least 16 points throughout. The Dukes’ advantage ballooned to as many as 25 points as they cruised to the finish, outscoring Texas State 35-26 after halftime.

James Madison also won the battle on the glass, securing 10 offensive rebounds leading to 12 second-chance points, and converted nine Texas State turnovers into 12 points. The Bobcats did hold a narrow edge in assists (7-5), steals (7-5), and fast-break points (13-11), but those margins were rendered meaningless by the Dukes’ overwhelming shooting performance.

The victory moved James Madison to a 2-3 record in Sun Belt play, while Texas State fell to 3-2 in the conference.

James Madison next travels to face Troy on Thursday. Texas State returns home to host Marshall on Wednesday.