ATLANTA (Interstat) — James Madison built a large early lead and cruised to an 80-65 victory over Georgia State in a Sun Belt Conference men’s basketball game Saturday at GSU Sports Arena. The Dukes opened with a 14-0 run and led 40-26 at halftime, never allowing the Panthers to threaten. Cliff Davis led all scorers with 27 points for James Madison, which improved to 16-13. Gabe Newhof added 18 points. Micah Tucker scored 22 points and Jelani Hamilton added 19 for Georgia State, which fell to 10-19. The Dukes dominated inside, outscoring the Panthers 58-22 in the paint. Attendance was 1,396.

ATLANTA (Interstat) — Cliff Davis scored 27 points and James Madison used a dominant first half to build an insurmountable lead, cruising to an 80-65 victory over Georgia State in a Sun Belt Conference men’s basketball game Saturday afternoon at GSU Sports Arena. The Dukes (16-13, 8-8) led wire-to-wire, opening the game on a 14-0 run and never looking back. They took a 40-26 advantage into halftime and maintained a double-digit cushion throughout the second half to sweep the season series from the Panthers (10-19, 5-11). The teams had played an overtime thriller just 10 days prior, a game James Madison won 81-79. The most critical phase of the contest was its opening minutes. James Madison set an immediate, physical tone, forcing two Georgia State turnovers and converting them into easy baskets. Gabe Newhof scored on a layup 36 seconds in, Justin McBride completed a three-point play, and Preston Fowler added a layup to make it 7-0, prompting a Georgia State timeout just 1:22 into the game. The run extended to 14-0 before the Panthers finally got on the board nearly four minutes in. That early burst established a template of interior dominance and defensive pressure that Georgia State could never overcome. Davis, a junior guard from Thomasville, Georgia, was efficient and relentless, hitting 11 of his 19 field goal attempts. He consistently attacked the rim, contributing to James Madison’s overwhelming 58-22 advantage in points in the paint. He also added four rebounds and two assists in 36 minutes. His backcourt mate, Oriekose Egbule, controlled the glass with a game-high nine rebounds. Newhof, a 6-foot-9 forward, provided crucial interior scoring with 18 points on 8-of-11 shooting, while also grabbing five rebounds. McBride added nine points and four rebounds. Georgia State was led by Micah Tucker’s 22 points. Jelani Hamilton added 19 points, six rebounds and two assists for the Panthers, who shot just 40.7% from the field. Despite making 15 of 18 free throws and committing only 11 turnovers, they were undone by James Madison’s superior efficiency and rebounding. The Dukes shot 56.4% from the floor overall but were an uncharacteristic 2 of 15 from three-point range. It did not matter, as they scored 23 fast-break points to Georgia State’s six and outrebounded the Panthers 12-6 on the offensive glass, leading to a 19-12 edge in second-chance points. James Madison’s offensive rating of 120.4 on 66 possessions underscored its effective, if perimeter-challenged, performance. Georgia State managed an offensive rating of just 96.2. The victory marked James Madison’s third straight win, improving its position in the Sun Belt standings. Georgia State has now lost two of its last three. An announced crowd of 1,396 watched at GSU Sports Arena. James Madison will host Georgia Southern on Wednesday night. Georgia State is scheduled to host Coastal Carolina on Tuesday night.

ATLANTA (Interstat) — A rematch of an overtime thriller awaits Saturday when the James Madison Dukes visit the Georgia State Panthers in a Sun Belt Conference men’s basketball game at GSU Sports Arena. James Madison (15-13) arrives having won four of its last five, including a narrow 67-65 road victory over Coastal Carolina on Wednesday. The Dukes edged Georgia State (10-18) 81-79 in overtime just 10 days ago in Harrisonburg, Virginia, on Feb. 12. The Panthers, coming off a 66-64 home win over Georgia Southern on Thursday, will seek to avenge that close loss and split the season series. A key matchup will feature two of the league’s top scorers. James Madison is led by guard Cliff Davis, who poured in 26 points in the first meeting against Georgia State. Davis is averaging 18.6 points over his last seven games, including a 22-point performance against Coastal Carolina. Georgia State will counter with guard Malachi Brown, who scored 25 points in a loss to Old Dominion last Saturday. Brown averages 17.1 points per game in February and will be central to the Panthers’ offensive plans. While James Madison holds the better overall record, both teams have shown a propensity for close games. The Dukes’ last three wins have come by a combined 10 points. Georgia State’s recent win over Georgia Southern also came down to the final possession. The game tips off at 2 p.m. EST on Saturday, Feb. 21, 2026. James Madison visits Georgia Southern next Wednesday, while Georgia State hosts Coastal Carolina next Tuesday.