JMU WINS HOME OPENER OVER KENNESAW STATE 82-69

Friday, November 21

Harrisonburg, Va.

7 p.m.

James Madison University

2-1

Kennesaw State

2-2

Kennesaw State

James Madison

11/21/2008 5:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball

Box Score

HARRISONBURG, Va., Nov. 21, 2008 ?Five players scored at least 12 points as balanced scoring led James Madison past Kennesaw State 82-69 in non-conference men's basketball action on Friday evening at the JMU Convocation Center.

JMU won its second in a row to improve to 2-1 for the season while KSU dropped to 2-2. It was the 2008-09 home opener for the Dukes.

Senior guard Abdulai Jalloh (District Heights, Md./National Christian Academy) led the JMU with 16 points along with five rebounds and two steals. Junior guard Pierre Curtis (Denver, Colo./East) turned in a solid all-around effort with 12 points, six rebounds, seven assists, and two steals. Freshman forward Julius Wells (Toledo, Ohio/Libbey) tallied 13 points, hitting three of five three pointers, along with five boards and two steals. Freshman guard Devon Moore (Columbus, Ohio/Northland) poured in 15 points while freshman forward Andrey Semenov (St. Petersburg, Russia/Blue Ridge School) added 12 points, seven boards, and three assists.

John-Michael Nickerson led all players with 19 points and 10 rebounds for the Owls. John Allison totaled 15 points and six boards with Spencer Dixon adding 14 points. Kurtis Woods and Kelvin McConnell each put in eight points and five assists with McConnell recording three steals.

KSU vaulted out to an early 15-7 advantage, but the difference in the game came on a 16-0 JMU scoring run covering six minutes and 20 seconds to put the Dukes in front 23-15. Jalloh had nine of JMU's 16 points during the run.