TROY, Ala. (Interstat) — In a Sun Belt Conference clash defined by defensive pressure and offensive inefficiency, the James Madison Dukes authored a gritty road victory, upsetting the Troy Trojans 73-64 on Thursday night at Trojan Arena.

The Dukes, improving to 11-11 overall, leaned on a career-high 23 points from guard Cliff Davis and a decisive second-half surge to overcome a Troy squad that entered the game with a 15-6 record and an 86 percent probability to win according to predictive metrics. The Trojans fell to 15-7.

The most critical phase of the contest unfolded early in the second half, transforming a narrow James Madison lead into a commanding advantage from which Troy could not recover. Leading 31-28 at halftime, the Dukes emerged from the break with immediate purpose. Eddie Ricks opened the half with a layup, and after a defensive stop, Cliff Davis converted a steal into a fast-break layup while drawing a foul, a three-point play that ignited the visiting bench and the 2,602 in attendance.

This sequence sparked a 13-4 James Madison run over the first five minutes of the period. Davis, a junior from Thomasville, Georgia, was the catalyst, adding a smooth jump shot during the stretch. His scoring burst pushed the Dukes’ lead to 44-32, forcing Troy into an early timeout as their offense continued to sputter. The Trojans, who shot just 36 percent from the field for the game, managed only four points in the first five minutes of the second half, a drought that proved insurmountable.

Troy’s struggles were emblematic of their night. They committed only six turnovers but were plagued by poor shooting, finishing 8 of 29 from three-point range and posting an offensive rating of 93.4 points per 100 possessions. Victor Valdes led the Trojans with 16 points, while Thomas Dowd contributed 12 points, six assists and three blocks. Despite forcing 12 James Madison turnovers and recording nine steals and seven blocks as a team, Troy’s own inability to score consistently nullified their defensive efforts.

James Madison, conversely, found just enough offensive rhythm behind Davis and backcourt mate Bradley Douglas, who added 14 points and four assists. The Dukes shot 48 percent from the field and, crucially, 8 of 19 from beyond the arc. While they managed only two assists as a team, their 42-point second half, on 50 percent shooting, provided the necessary cushion.

Troy made several pushes to close the gap, trimming the deficit to nine points on multiple occasions in the final ten minutes. Each time, James Madison had an answer, often from Douglas or Davis. A Theo Seng three-pointer brought Troy within 62-59 with just over a minute remaining, applying late pressure. But the Dukes closed the game at the free-throw line, making 11 of 16 attempts in the second half to seal the nine-point victory.

The win marks a significant road result for a James Madison team that had been inconsistent in conference play, while Troy will rue a missed opportunity at home after entering the game as an 8.5-point favorite. The total score of 137 fell well under the pregame over/under line of 149.5, underscoring the defensive and sometimes sloppy nature of the contest.

James Madison looks to build on the momentum Saturday at Southern Mississippi. Troy aims to rebound at home against Appalachian State the same day.