Game Story; Delaware 65, JMU 64

Monday, February 25

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DELAWARE

JAMES MADISON

2/25/2002 12:49:00 PM | Men's Basketball

Box Score

HARRISONBURG, Va. (2/25/2002) – Austen Rowland's layup with four seconds to play lifted Delaware to a 65-64 victory over JMU's in the Dukes' final regular-season game.

Delaware's decisive field goal came after Dwayne Broyles had given JMU a 64-63 lead with a three-point field goal with 17 seconds to play and after the Dukes had rallied from a 10-point, early-second-half deficit and a four-point deficit during the final minute. After leading 28-19 late during the opening half, JMU trailed 46-36 early during the final period and 63-59 after rallying to lead 56-50.

Mike Slattery's three-point field goal with 1:14 to play gave Delaware its 63-59 lead, but JMU got the next five points before Rowland scored the game-winning field goal and JMU's Chris Williams couldn't connect on a three-point attempt during the Dukes' final possession. JMU had gotten to within 63-61 on two Kenny Whitehead free throws with 58 seconds left, and Broyles gave the Dukes a 64-61 lead after Ryan Iversen missed on a three-point try with 42 seconds to play.

JMU led 28-19 on a Whitehead layup with 4:14 left during the first half but was outscored 27-8 during the next 7:06 of playing time as the Blue Hens took a 46-36 lead with with 17:08 left in the game. Iversen had seven points as Delaware closed the opening half with a 13-2 run to lead 32-30, and three Blue Hens had three-pointers and a another a three-point play as they started the final period with a 14-6 run to lead 46-36 with 17:08 remaining.

Six straight JMU points by Williams allowed the Dukes to pull into a 48-48 tie with 12:08 left, and Whitehead scored their final six points during a 20-4 burst that gave the Dukes 56-50 lead with 7:31 to play. JMU didn't score agan for nearly three minutes, and Delaware's Maurice Sessoms tied the score at 56-56 with 4:57 left. Iversen then had four points and Slattery his three-pointer for the Blue Hens' 63-59 lead.

Sessoms led a balanced Delaware attack with 12 points, and Iversen and Slattery each added 11. Sessoms had a team-best seven rebounds and Slattery six assists.

Williams had a season-high 18 points on eight-of-13 shooting, four rebounds and three assists for JMU. Whitehead added 12 points and 10 rebounds and Ian Caskill 10 points and seven rebounds for the Dukes.

Delaware shot 42.6 percent (26-61) and JMU 43.1 percent (25-58), but the Blue Hens connected on seven three-point shots to only two for the Dukes. JMU had a 41-30 rebounding advantage.