Duke Blue Devils guard Jared McCain (0) reacts after a basket against the James Madison Dukes in the second round of the 2024 NCAA Tournament at Barclays Center. Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports

Watch: Duke freshman sets incredible record in win over JMU

By Mike Santa Barbara | Last updated 3/24/24

Helped by a historic day from a sharpshooting freshman, No. 4 Duke punched its ticket to the Sweet 16, blowing out No. 12 James Madison, 93-55, in the second round of the NCAA Tournament.

Guard Jared McCain simply couldn't miss from beyond the arc, connecting on eight three-pointers, the most in Blue Devils history. He passes Quinn Cook, who hit seven threes in 2014.

JARED ̶C̶U̶R̶R̶Y̶ MCCAIN.

HE'S UP TO 30 POINTS AND 8 THREES #MarchMadness @DukeMBB pic.twitter.com/iQCAJLGzU4
— NCAA March Madness (@MarchMadnessMBB) March 24, 2024

McCain finished just short of the overall program record for threes in a game of nine, held by Shane Battier and JJ Redick.

Duke led JMU by as many as 38 points, paced early by McCain, who opened the scoring with, what else, a three-pointer. He'd end the half with 22 points, the most of any player in this year's tournament, shooting 7-of-11 from the field and 6-of-8 from three.

Jared McCain gets @DukeMBB started with a triple pic.twitter.com/0b2S7ZaVxp
— CBS Sports College Basketball (@CBSSportsCBB) March 24, 2024

The first-year standout finished 10-of-15 from the field and 8-of-11 from three for a game-high 30 points. McCain's hot hand helped the Blue Devils shoot an outrageous 52.4 percent (52.4) while making half its three-point attempts (14-of-28) against JMU.

Sunday's victory, coupled with Kansas's loss in the second round, gives Duke sole possession of the fourth-most Sweet 16 appearances in history (33). They trail only UCLA (36), North Carolina (36), and Kentucky (44).

Meanwhile, the win also secures Duke as the only program with both men's and women's teams in the Sweet 16.

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