HARRISONBURG, Va. — In a competitive matchup on Thursday night, Mark Freeman showcased an impressive performance, scoring 30 points to propel James Madison to an 83-72 victory against Southern Miss.

Freeman completed the game shooting 9 of 16 from the field, including a commendable 4 of 8 from three-point territory, and successfully converted 8 of 12 attempts from the free-throw line. This win improved the Dukes’ record to 8-6 overall and 1-1 in the Sun Belt Conference. AJ Smith contributed significantly with 13 points and five rebounds, while Eddie Ricks III added 11 points, going 4 for 6 from the field and securing seven rebounds.

On the other side, the Golden Eagles, who now hold a record of 6-8 and 1-1 within the conference, had Andre Curbelo leading their scoring efforts with a double-double, finishing the game with 24 points and 10 rebounds. Cobie Montgomery provided additional support with 12 points, while Christian Watson chipped in with 11 points of his own.

Both teams are set to return to the court on Saturday. James Madison will host Arkansas State, while Southern Miss will travel to face Old Dominion.