JMU OPENS WITH 100-88 MEN'S BASKETBALL VICTORY

Friday, November 9

Harrisonburg, Va.

7 p.m.

James Madison University

1-0

100

Siena

0-1

Siena

James Madison

100

11/9/2007 5:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball

Box Score

HARRISONBURG, Va., Nov. 9, 2007 ? Junior forward Kyle Swanston (Spring Hill, Fla./Hernando) sparked a second-half James Madison burst with back-to-back three-point field goals, and the Dukes went on to beat Siena 100-88 at the JMU Convocation Center Friday in the season-opening men's basketball game for both teams.

Swanston put JMU in front to stay 71-68 with a three-pointer with 10:02 left in the game and scored again from long range with 8:52 remaining for a 74-70 Dukes advantage. Junior guard Abdulai Jalloh (District Heights, Md./National Christian Academy) added a field goal at 7:55 to raise JMU's lead to 76-70, and the Dukes kept at least a four-point margin the rest of the way.

The game marked the first time since a 94-84 win over Virginia Military Institute Dec. 29 at the University of Richmond that JMU reached the 90-point mark and the first time since a 110-77 home victory over Liberty Dec. 2, 1998 that the Dukes reached the 100-point barrier.

Siena, which was 20-12 and reached the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference title game a year ago, still was within 81-76 with 4:43 left, but the Saints got only two more field goals ? both after JMU led 95-83.

The Dukes got points from six players during the final 4:27, including seven points by Jalloh during the last 2:24. The St. Joseph's transfer, who was playing his first JMU game, hit on driving shots at the 2:24 and 1:42 marks for JMU leads of 89-78 and 91-80 and converted on three of four free throws during the final 56 seconds.

JMU shot 64.9 percent (37-57) overall from the floor and 75.0 percent (21-28) during the final half while outscoring the visiting Saints 58-44. The Dukes hit on 11 of 22 three-point attempts overall.

Junior forward Juwann James (Jacksonville, Fla./Raines) was the Dukes' most ef