Game Story; JMU 67, UNC Wilmington 65

Monday, February 28

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James Madison University

19-8, 12-4

UNCW

15-12, 8-8

UNC WILMINGTON

JAMES MADISON

2/28/2000 2:16:00 PM | Men's Basketball

Box Score

HARRISONBURG, Va. (2/28/2000) – Rob Strickland's tip-in field goal with 6.9 seconds left put JMU in front to stay, and the senior center blocked a three-point North Carolina Wilmington field goal try seconds later as the Dukes pulled into a tie for first place in the Colonial Athletic Association with a 67-65 victory in their final regular-season game.

JMU and George Mason tied for the CAA regular-season title, but George Mason received the conference tournament's top seed through the league tie-breaker procedure (wins against higher-finishing teams in conference play).

Strickland's field goal gave JMU a 66-65 lead, and he blocked Barron Thelmon three-point try on UNC Wilmington's next possession. Mickey Dennis added a free throw with 1.9 seconds left as JMU improved to 12-4 in CAA games.

JMU played without starting swingman Jamar Perry (knee injury) and reserve point guard David Fanning (ankle) but rallied from a 34-28 halftime deficit. The Dukes shot 46.9 percent (15-32) during the second half.

JMU pulled into a 45-45 tie on Dwayne Braxton's three-point field goal and free throw with 11:17 left and didn't trail again until Brett Blizzard's fourth three-pointer gave UNC Wilmington a 61-60 edge with 3:00 left. The lead then changed hands four times before Strickland's decisive score.

Jabari Outtz had 17 points, five rebounds and five assists to lead JMU. The dukes also got 13 points from Dwayne Braxton and 10 from Pat Mitchell.

Blizzard led UNC Wilmington with 24 points.

The game was rescheduled from earlier during the season when UNC Wilmington didn't travel to Harrisonburg because of snowfall in the Wilmington area.