Game Story; JMU 64, Va. Commonwealth 63

Wednesday, February 26

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James Madison University

12-15, 8-9CAA

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17-8, 12-5CAA

Virginia Commonwealth

James Madison

2/26/2003 3:13:00 PM | Men's Basketball

Box Score

HARRISONBURG, Va. (2/26/2003) – Wes Miller hit on two free throws, the first of his career, with 2.6 seconds left, and JMU won a third straight game for the first time in 2002-03, 64-63 over Virginia Commonwealth.

Miller, who had missed on all four of his previous free throws during the season, rattled the rim to tie the score and hit his second shot cleanly. After a VCU timeout, the Rams' Nick George took the inbounds pass beyond the mid-court stripe, dribbled and tried an off-balanced three-point try that hit the rim.

The Dukes got the decisive possession when Dwayne Broyles rebounded after VCU's Dominic Jones missed both tries on a two-shot foul with 0:15 left. David Fanning drove the left side and passed to Miller, who while driving to the basket was fouled by Troy Godwin.

Chris Williams drove for a layup with 16 seconds to play to pull JMU to within 63-62. Williams then fouled out on the ensuing inbounds pass and sent Jones to the free throw line.

VCU got the first five points before Ian Caskill scored five of his game-high-tying 16 points to lead JMU to a 10-9 margin with 16:03 left in the first half. The Dukes kept a slim lead until the Rams tied the score at 19 on Antoine Willie's basket at 8:55 JMU then went on its biggest run of the game, as four players scored during a 15-4 surge that raised the lead to 34-23 3:27 before intermission. The Dukes led 37-30 at the break, thanks in part to 30 percent shooting (10-33) by the Rams and a 28-14 rebounding advantage. JMU's nine turnovers to VCU's one in the first half helped keep the Rams close.

JMU kept the lead until a layup by Jones with 5:22 left put VCU up 55-54. VCU's largest lead late during the game was three points, last at 63-60 with 30 seconds to play when Emanuel Mathis hit on both ends of a one-and-one free throw chance.

JMU's Kenny Whitehead had 12 points and shared team rebounding honors with Broyles with eight. Williams had 10 points and five assists. JMU had a 46-31 rebounding edge but committed 17 turnovers to VCU's seven.

Godwin led VCU with 16 points and a game-high 10 rebounds. Jones added 11 points and five assists, and Willie Taylor had 10 points.