James Madison declares Sun Belt title to make its veryfirst NCAA Tournament quote consideringthat 2013

Xavier Brown scored a career-high 21 points to go with 10 rebounds and No. 2 seed James Madison relieved by No. 4 seed Arkansas State 91-71 on Monday night to claim the Sun Belt Conference Tournament champion and make its veryfirst NCAA Tournament quote consideringthat 2013.

James Madison (31-3), which outlived Texas State in the semifinals to notch its veryfirst 30-win season in program history, extended its winning streak to 13 videogames. The Dukes started the season on a 14-game winning streak, beginning with an overtime triumph over then-No. 4 Michigan State.

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Arkansas State (18-16), in its veryfirst Sun Belt champion videogame look consideringthat 2007, was lookingfor its veryfirst NCAA Tournament berth giventhat 1999.

Brown, balancing 6.1 points per videogame, scored 19 points in the opening 14 minutes, consistingof 13 straight James Madison points, to aid develop a 30-23 lead. He made his veryfirst 7 shots before missingouton a 3-guideline with 5: 22 left. Brown completed the half with 21, topping his previous finest scoring overall of 17 versus Hampton on Dec. 16.

Noah Freidel made 2 3-tips in the opening 3 minutes of the 2nd half, consistingof a four-point play, and Terrence Edwards included another 3, following an offensive rebound, to make it 54-39 with 16: 09 left.

Edwards, the Sun Belt gamer of the year, completed with 19 points for JMU. Jaylen Carey scored 13 and Freidel had12 The Dukes completed 11 of 19 from range.

Freddy Hicks, who made a game-winner in the semifinals versus top-seeded Appalachian State, scored 24 points for Arkansas State. Izaiyah Nelson had 12 points and 12 rebounds. Caleb Fields and Taryn Todd each had 10 points and 5 helps.

Reporting by The Associated Press.