Game Story; Drexel 77, JMU 61

Wednesday, January 7

Philadelphia, Pa.

TBA

James Madison University

3-7, 0-2

Drexel

6-5, 1-1

James Madison

Drexel Dragons

1/7/2004 12:55:00 PM | Men's Basketball

Box Score

PHILADELPHIA, Pa. (1/7/2004) – Five players had points during a 12-0 first-half scoring burst that gave Drexel control, and the Dragons went on to beat JMU 77-61.

JMU led 6-5 five minutes into the game but then went scoreless for seven minutes while Drexel built a 17-6 lead. The Dragons raised their advantage to 31-15 with 3:40 left in the first half and led 33-17 at halftime. The lead went to 40-19 three minutes into the final period, and JMU got no closer than 13 points the rest of the way.

Chaz Crawford put Drexel in front to stay 8-6 with a layup with 12:13 left in the first half, and Kenell Sanchez completed the Dragons' early 12-0 run with a free throw for Drexel's 17-6 lead with 8:23 remaining in the half.

JMU had gone in front 6-5 on David Cooper's field goal with 15:08 left in the first half, but the Dukes' didn't score again until Cavell Johnson had a field goal at the 8:06 mark.

Drexel shot 46.4 percent (13-28) during the first half to JMU's 28.0 percent (7-28), and the Dukes had 10 first-half turnovers. Drexel had four three-point field goals during the final half after having but one during the first period, and the Dragons shot 63.0 percent (17-27) overall during the final 20 minutes.

Drexel shot 54.5 percent (30-55) overall and JMU 35.0 percent (21-60).

Sean Brooks led four Drexel players in double figures in scoring with 20 points, including 15 during the second half. He scored Drexel's first five points but sat out the final 15 minutes of the opening half with two fouls. He hit on nine of 11 field goal attempts and had five rebounds despite playing only 13 minutes.

Kenell Sanchez had 12 points and five rebounds off the bench and Tim Whitworth and Phil Goss 11 points each for Drexel.

Dwayne Broyles led JMU with 18 points, all during the second half. He also had five rebounds and three assists, steals and three-point field goals. Cooper with a JMU-career-high 13 points was the Dukes' only other double-figure scorer. Cooper also had a game-high six rebounds while playing 25 minutes off the bench.