In a commanding performance, the Duke Blue Devils secured a spot in the Sweet 16 by defeating James Madison 93-55 in the second round of the NCAA Tournament. Jared McCain was the standout player of the game, scoring a remarkable 30 points, including a Duke record of eight 3-pointers in a tournament game.
The Blue Devils, seeded fourth, showcased their dominance early on, taking a 22-point lead into halftime and never allowing James Madison to close the gap significantly in the second half. Despite James Madison's strong defensive efforts in their previous games, Duke's offensive prowess proved too much to handle.
With this victory, Duke advances to face the winner of the Houston-Texas A&M matchup in the South Region semifinals scheduled for Friday in Dallas.
James Madison, the 12th seed, saw their dream season come to an end with a program-record 32 wins. Terrence Edwards Jr. led the Dukes with 13 points in the game.
McCain's exceptional performance not only propelled Duke to victory but also set a new school record previously held by Quinn Cook. The freshman's sharpshooting from beyond the arc was a key factor in Duke's success, as they finished with an impressive 14-for-28 shooting from 3-point range.
Head coach Jon Scheyer, in his second season at the helm, guided Duke to the Sweet 16 after a disappointing second-round exit in the previous tournament. Scheyer, a former player and assistant coach with Duke, celebrated his first Sweet 16 appearance as a head coach.
The victory over James Madison also marked a significant achievement for the North Carolina “Triangle” region, with Duke, North Carolina, and North Carolina State all advancing to the Sweet 16 for the first time since 2015.
Duke's success in reaching the second weekend of March Madness for the 27th time since the tournament's expansion in 1985 underscores their consistent performance on the national stage.
For more updates on the NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament, you can visit the official AP March Madness bracket and coverage.
