Game Story; JMU 84, Akron 82

Saturday, December 7

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Akron

James Madison

12/7/2002 2:29:00 PM | Men's Basketball

Box Score

HARRISONBURG, Va. (12/7/2002) – David Fanning's jumper from inside the key gave JMU an 83-82 lead with 34 seconds left, and the Dukes held on for an 84-82 victory over Akron.

Fanning finished with a game- and season-high 28 points, one off his career scoring high. He had 20 first-half points, hitting five-of-seven three-point tries and six of nine shots overall. He also had five assists for the game.

After Fanning put JMU in front to stay, Akron was called for its second offensive foul away from the ball during the final 1:23. Chris Williams hit the first of two free throws with 20.6 seconds left with the Zips getting the rebound and calling time out with 5.1 seconds left. Darryl Peterson's contested 12-foot shot from just beyond the right side of the lane was off the mark, and the ball was batted around as time expired.

JMU hit on 18 of 25 shots (72 percent), including eight of 12 (67 percent) from three-point range, to take a 48-31 halftime lead. The Dukes' lead reached 54-33 early during the second half and was 61-42 with 14:43 to play.

Akron pulled to within 73-65 at the 6:18 mark before two free throws by Ian Caskill pushed the JMU margin back to 10 for a final time, 75-65.

Akron used a 10-0 run to tie the score at 75 with eight of the points coming from on free throws. Derrick Tarver had six of the free throws and eight points overall during the run.

Williams hit on two free throws to break the JMU drought with 3:49 remaining, but Akron took its first lead since midway through the first half when Peterson hit on a three-pointer from the left corner with 3:22 remaining. JMU regained the lead 81-80 on Daniel Freeman's layup off a rebound with 1:04 left. Peterson followed with a layup 18 seconds later for the Zips' final lead.

Williams had 15 points and five assists, Kenny Whitehead 12 points and a team-high six rebounds, and Caskill 10 points for his fifth double-figure game of the year for JMU.

JMU shot a season-high 54 percent (30-56) overall and hit on nine of 20 (45 percent) three-point tries. Akron shot 42 percent (28-66) overall and was four of 14 on three-point tries. Akron had a 37-29 rebounding edge.

Akron's Tarver and John Hollingsworth each had 26 points.