MEN'S BASKETBALL DUKES BEATEN 89-67 AT GEORGE MASON

Saturday, February 5

Fairfax, Va.

TBA

James Madison University

(4-16, 2-10CAA)

George Mason

(12-9, 7-5CAA)

James Madison

George Mason

2/6/2005 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball

Box Score

FAIRFAX, Va. (2/5/05) – George Mason assumed control with a 12-0 first-half scoring run and went on to beat JMU 89-67 in Colonial Athletic Association men's basketball Saturday.

JMU took an 8-4 lead 2:31 into the game but then went more than seven minutes without a field goal. The Dukes' drought allowed George Mason to take a 16-8 lead midway through the opening period and the host Patriots led 43-26 by halftime.

George Mason raised its overall record to 12-9 and its CAA mark to 7-5 with the win. JMU fell to 4-16 overall and to 2-10 in the CAA.

George Mason shot 52 percent (14-27) and had five three-point field goals during the first half, and the Patriots hit on 29 of 30 free throws for the game. JMU hit on only 11 of 26 first-half shots (42 percent) and didn't have a three-pointer during the period.

Five Patriots had nine or more points, including guard Tony Skinn, who had a team-leading 15.

JMU shot 45 percent (25-56) overall from the field but had only four three-pointers and hit on but 13 of 22 free throws.

The Dukes got 14 points each from sophomore guard Ray Barbosa (Allentown, Pa./William Allen) and sophomore forward Cavell Johnson (Middleburg, Va./Notre Dame Academy), and junior guard Jomo Belfor (Mount Vernon, N.Y./Mount Vernon) had 13 points and a career-high-tying seven assists. Junior forward David Cooper (Manchester, N.H./Manchester Central) had nine points and seven rebounds.

JMU returns to action Wednesday (Feb. 9) at Hofstra. Wednesday's starting time has been moved to 7:30 p.m. to accommodate Fox New York television.