TOWSON DOWNS JMU 73-64 IN MEN'S BASKETBALL

Saturday, January 26

Towson, Md.

7 p.m.

James Madison University

10-9 (3-6CAA)

Towson

8-11 (4-5CAA)

James Madison

Towson

1/26/2008 5:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball

Box Score

TOWSON, Md., Jan. 26, 2008 ? Towson built a nine-point lead during the opening minutes of the final half and went on to beat James Madison 73-64 in men's Colonial Athletic Association basketball Saturday.

The host Tigers led only 36-34 at halftime but outscored JMU 9-2 to lead 45-36 with 16:55 remaining. JMU rallied to within 62-58 on freshman guard Heiden Ratner's (Las Vegas, Nev./Silverado) three-point field goal with 3:32 to play and to within 62-60 on junior forward Juwann James's (Jacksonville, Fla./Raines) two free throws with 2:36 remaining but couldn't get closer.

Towson hit for a three-point field goal on the possession following James' free throws ? its third shot of the possession ? to lead 65-60 with 2:11 remaining and converted on eight of 10 free throws during the final 1:20 to seal the victory.

Towson improved to 8-11 overall and to 4-5 in the CAA with win while JMU fell to 10-9 overall and 3-6 in conference play.

Guard Josh Thornton had a three-point field goal and layup during Towson's 9-2 run to start the second half. JMU got to within 46-43 on a Ratner layup at 15:07 and three-pointer at 14:28, but Towson built the lead back to 56-46 with 10:46 left with guard C.C. Williams scoring six points during a 10-3 run.

Forward Tony Durant led four Towson players in double figures in scoring with a career-high 20 points. The Tigers shot 50.0 percent overall from the field (27-54), hit for seven three-point field goals (21 attempts) and were credited with blocking 10 JMU shots.

James led JMU with a season-high and career-high-tying 23 points. He hit on nine of 15 shots and had nine rebounds. James matched his career scoring high of 23, set Dec. 3, 2005 against Northeastern.