Game Story; UNC Wilmington 69, JMU 51

Thursday, January 1

Wilmington, N.C.

TBA

James Madison University

3-6,0-1CAA

UNCW

5-4,1-1CAA

James Madison

UNC Wilmington

1/1/2004 12:52:00 PM | Men's Basketball

Box Score

WILMINGTON, N.C. (1/1/2004) – North Carolina Wilmington took a double-figure lead six minutes into the game and beat JMU 69-51 in the Dukes' Colonial Athletic Association opener.

The Seahawks led 13-2 by the 13:59 mark of the first half and 34-18 at halftime. JMU scored the first six points of the final half to get to within 34-24, and the Dukes were within 44-34 with 10:09 left in the game but couldn't get closer. UNC Wilmington scored five straight points after JMU last was within 10 points and led by at least 13 points the rest of the way.

The Dukes missed on a three-point attempt while trailing 44-34, and UNC Wilmington's John Goldsberry hit on a three-pointer for a 47-34 Seahawk lead. The lead went to 49-34 on a Dave Noel field goal with 8:28 remaining.

JMU committed 11 turnovers during the first half and trailed by 16 points four times during the opening period.

UNC Wilmington had four double-figure scorers and shot 55.6 percent (25-45). The Seahawks connected on eight of 18 three-point attempts (44.4 percent).

Ed Spencer led UNC Wilmington with 14 points on five-of-seven shooting. Halston Lane had 13 points, including nine on three-pointers, and Anthony Terrell and Joel Justus each added 12 points for the Seahawks. Justus had nine first-half points off the bench.

JMU didn't have a double-figure scorer for the first time in 105 games and shot 47.8 percent (22-46). The Dukes were successful on only three of 17 three-point attempts (17.6 percent) and on but four of 11 free throws (36.4 percent). JMU shot 53.8 percent (14-26) during the second half after shooting 40.0 percent (8-20) during the first half.

Ray Barbosa and Eddie Greene-Long led JMU with nine points each, and Daniel Freeman and Cavell Johnson each had eight. Greene-Long and Johnson established career scoring highs, and Freeman had a career-high seven rebounds. Johnson hit on each of his four field goal attempts.