DUKES DROP MEN'S BASKETBALL OPENER TO DAVIDSON

Monday, November 17

Norman, Okla.

6 p.m.

James Madison University

0-1

Davidson

2-0

James Madison

Davidson

11/17/2008 5:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball

Box Score

NORMAN, Okla., Nov. 17, 2008 ? Davidson scored the game's first 11 points and went on to beat James Madison 99-64 Monday in the opening round of the Dick's Sporting Goods NIT Season Tip-Off.

Playing at the University of Oklahoma, the 20th-ranked Wildcats got 33 points from All-America guard Stephen Curry and shot 58.5 percent (38-65) from the field in downing JMU in the Dukes' season-opener.

The victory raised Davidson's record to 2-0 and sends the Wildcats into a Tuesday (Nov. 18) second-round Preseason NIT game against Oklahoma, a 94-53 winner over Mississippi Valley State in Monday's second game in Norman. JMU will play Mississippi Valley State in a 6:30 p.m. second-round game Tuesday, and Oklahoma and Davidson will meet at 9:30 p.m. EST for the right to advance to third- and fourth-round Preseason NIT play at New York's Madison Square Garden next week. The 12 Preseason NIT teams not advancing to New York will play third- and fourth-round games at campus sites next week.

All-America guard Stephen Curry led Davidson against JMU Tuesday with a game-high 33 points on 14-of-19 shooting from the field. He had four three-point field goals, nine assists and four steals.

Davidson hit on 10 of 25 three-point tries (40.0 percent), had a 41-28 rebounding edge and took advantage of 18 JMU turnovers while committing 10.

The Wildcats had six three-point field goals during the opening half and had a 50-30 lead at the break.

JMU, playing for the first time under first-yea