LOYOLA BEATS JMU IN MEN'S BASKETBALL PRESEASON NIT

Monday, November 24

Davidson, N.C.

5:45 p.m.

James Madison University

2-2

Loyola (Md.)

2-3

Loyola (Md.)

James Madison

11/24/2008 5:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball

Box Score

DAVIDSON, N.C., Nov. 24, 2008 ? Jamal Barney scored 15 straight Loyola (Md.) points during the second half as the Greyhounds held off James Madison for a 64-54 victory Monday in the third round of the Dick's Sporting Goods NIT Season Tip-Off.

Playing at Davidson College, JMU rallied from a 30-19 halftime deficit and used a 14-0 scoring burst to lead 44-43 with just less than nine minutes to play before Barney took control for Loyola. The guard, who had given the Greyhounds a 43-30 margin with a field goal at 13:34, put them up 46-44 with a three-pointer at 8:31, scored his team's next six points on free throws and added a pair of buckets to give Loyola a 56-51 lead.

After taking its only lead on freshman forward Julius Wells' (Toledo, Ohio/Libbey) three-pointer with 8:45 left, JMU hit for only two more field goals the rest of the way.

The late-game shooting difficulties were symbolic of Dukes' evening. They shot only 22 percent from the field during the first half (6-27) and finished with only a 29 percent overall shooting effort (17-58). They hit on but five of 22 attempts from three-point range (23 percent).

Loyola with the victory improved to 2-3 for the season while JMU had a two-game winning streak snapped and fell to 2-2.

JMU will meet Florida Atlantic Tuesday (Nov. 25) at 5:45 p.m. at Davidson to complete its play in the Preseason NIT. Florida Atlantic beat Santa Clara and lost to Arizona in last week's Preseason NIT play and met Davidson Monday in the event's third round.

Senior guard Abdulai Jalloh