of the Season
The James Madison Dukes pulled off a huge upset on Saturday, defeating No. 4 Michigan State 79-76 in overtime. It was the program’s second top 25 win of the season and the first time they had beaten a top five team since 1982.
The Dukes were led by their star guard Matt Lewis, who scored a career-high 33 points, including a game-tying three-pointer in the final seconds of regulation to force overtime. Lewis was also clutch in the extra period, scoring six of his team’s eight points in the extra five minutes.
The Spartans had a chance to win the game in regulation, but their star forward Xavier Tillman missed a potential game-winning layup with two seconds remaining. The Dukes then took advantage of their opportunity in overtime, outscoring the Spartans 8-4 in the extra period.
The win was a huge boost for the Dukes, who had been struggling in recent weeks. They had lost four of their last five games entering Saturday’s matchup, including a loss to George Mason earlier in the week.
The victory also marked the first time James Madison had beaten a top five team since 1982, when they defeated No. 4 Virginia. It was a huge win for the program and a sign that they are capable of competing with some of the best teams in the country.
The Dukes will look to build on this win as they continue their season. They have a tough stretch ahead of them, with games against No. 2 Duke and No. 3 Virginia coming up in the next few weeks. If they can continue to play at a high level, they could make some noise in the NCAA tournament.
Saturday’s win over Michigan State was a huge boost for James Madison and a sign that they can compete with some of the best teams in the country. It was an impressive victory and one that could help propel them to bigger and better things this season.