PENSACOLA, Fla. (Interstat) — In a game defined by explosive offensive runs and a relentless second-half surge, the James Madison Dukes pulled away from the Louisiana-Lafayette Ragin’ Cajuns for an 87-72 victory in a Sun Belt Conference men’s basketball game Wednesday night at the UWF Field House.

The Dukes, who entered as heavy favorites, improved to 18-14 overall. The Ragin’ Cajuns, despite a heroic scoring duel from their backcourt, fell to 11-22.

The contest’s decisive stretch came early in the second half, transforming what had been a competitive game into a comfortable James Madison lead. After taking a 37-27 advantage into halftime, the Dukes opened the final period with a blistering 13-5 run over the first four minutes. This burst, fueled by transition baskets and interior dominance, extended their lead to 50-32 and forced Louisiana-Lafayette into a reactive posture for the remainder of the night.

James Madison’s offensive balance proved overwhelming. Justin McBride, a 6-foot-7 forward from Plano, Texas, led the Dukes with 20 points, showcasing his efficiency around the rim. He was complemented perfectly by the backcourt tandem of Cliff Davis and Bradley Douglas. Davis, from Thomasville, Georgia, added 21 points and was a catalyst in the open floor, while Douglas, a native of Eustis, Florida, chipped in 18 points, many during the critical second-half expansion.

Louisiana-Lafayette’s resistance was spearheaded almost entirely by the prolific scoring of Dorian Finister and Jaxon Olvera. Finister, a 6-foot-5 guard from New Orleans, poured in a game-high 27 points, attacking the basket and drawing fouls. Olvera, a 6-foot-5 guard from Houston, was equally formidable, matching Finister’s 27-point output with a mix of perimeter shooting and crafty drives.

Despite their combined 54 points, the Ragin’ Cajuns could not find consistent secondary scoring or string together enough defensive stops to mount a sustained comeback. Every time Louisiana-Lafayette threatened to cut the deficit to single digits in the second half, James Madison answered, often with a basket from McBride in the paint or a timely three-pointer.

The Dukes shot a robust 50 percent from the floor in the second half, scoring 50 points to put the game out of reach. Their ball movement and ability to capitalize on Louisiana-Lafayette’s 14 turnovers were pivotal, leading to a 21-9 advantage in points off turnovers.

James Madison also controlled the interior, outscoring the Ragin’ Cajuns 52-34 in the paint and outrebounding them 38-30. The Dukes’ depth was on display as Eli Wilborn contributed eight points and six rebounds off the bench, and Oriekose Egbule added seven points and disruptive defense.

The game began with both teams trading early baskets, but James Madison established control with a 12-2 run midway through the first half to build a double-digit lead. Louisiana-Lafayette’s Finister and Olvera kept their team within striking distance, but the Ragin’ Cajuns’ cold start from the field—shooting just 36 percent in the opening period—left them playing from behind.

The victory avenged a 64-61 home loss to Louisiana-Lafayette just a month earlier on Feb. 4. James Madison now looks ahead to a quick turnaround, facing Southern Mississippi on Thursday. Louisiana-Lafayette concludes a season marked by offensive struggles and defensive lapses, having lost three of its final four games.

An announced crowd of 824 watched as James Madison methodically dismantled the Ragin’ Cajuns’ defense after halftime, turning a 10-point lead into an insurmountable margin and comfortably covering the pregame spread. The total points scored, 159, sailed over the projected over/under line.