HOFSTRA BEATS JMU IN THREE-OVERTIME MEN'S BASKETBALL GAME

Wednesday, February 9

Hempstead, N.Y.

TBA

James Madison University

4-17 (2-11)

Hofstra

15-7 (7-6)

OT 1

OT 2

OT 3

James Madison

Hofstra

HOFSTRA BEATS JMU IN THREE-OVERTIME MEN'S BASKETBALL GAME

2/10/2005 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball

Box Score

HEMPSTEAD, N.Y. (2/9/05) – Wendell Gibson hit on four straight free throws to give Hofstra a four-point lead early during the third overtime, and the Pride went on to beat James Madison 95-88 in Colonial Athletic Association men's basketball Wednesday.

Gibson's free throws gave Hofstra an 88-84 lead with 3:04 remaining. JMU got to within 88-86 on a field goal by sophomore forward Cavell Johnson (Middleburg, Va./Notre Dame Academy) with 2:43 to play, but the Pride got a jumper from Antoine Agudio with a 2:21 left and a steal and breakaway dunk from Mike Radziejewski for a 92-86 lead with 1:44 left.

JMU committed another turnover during ensuing possession and with four players having already fouled out didn't get closer than five points again.

Hofstra improved to 15-7 overall and to 7-6 in the CAA, and JMU fell to 4-17 overall and to 2-11 in the CAA.

The contest matched the second-longest game in JMU's NCAA varsity basketball history (since 1969-70). The Dukes lost 91-89 in four overtimes to Valdosta State in a tournament in Florida in 1973-74 and fell 94-92 in three overtimes to Richmond at home in 1986-87. They hadn't played a multiple overtime game since beating East Carolina 69-67 in two extra periods during the first round of the 1997 CAA Tournament.

The teams in Wednesday's game were tied at 62 at the end of regulation, at 71 after one overtime and at 80 after the second extra period.

Hofstra took advantage of 37 JMU fouls to shoot 54 free throws (making 34) and also had the benefit of 26 JMU turnovers. JMU hit on 22 of 29 free throws and had a 56-41 rebounding edge.

JMU forced the first overtime when junior guard Jomo Belfor (Mount Vernon, N.Y./Mount Vernon) hit on two free throws with 23.7 seconds left in regulation after Hofstra had scored five straight points to go in front 62-60. Johnson stole the ball with five seconds remaining as Hofstra worked for what it hoped would be the game-winning points, but his 30-foot attempt as the clock expired bounced off the backboard and rim.

Hofstra took a 68-64 lead by hitting on three-pointers during its first two possessions of the first overtime. A Belfor three-pointer put JMU up 71-70 with 52 seconds remaining, and Hofstra's Adrian Uter got the period's final point by hitting on one of two free throws with 37.5 seconds left. Uter's free throws were set up by an offensive rebound off a missed free throw, and the Pride rebounded when Uter missed on his second try with 37.5 seconds left but couldn't score at the horn.

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