JMU EARNS 73-53 ROAD WIN AT FORDHAM

Sunday, November 30

Bronx, N.Y.

1 p.m.

James Madison University

4-2

Fordham

0-5

James Madison

Fordham

11/30/2008 5:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball

Box Score

BRONX, N.Y., Nov. 30, 2008 ? James Madison used a 15-0 first-half run to take a 13-point lead and never led by less than 11 in a 73-53 win at Fordham on Sunday afternoon in Rose Hill Gymnasium.

JMU improved to 4-2 on the season in its first true road contest of the year following one home game and four neutral bouts. FU dropped to 0-5 on the season. It was the first meeting ever between the two schools.

Senior forward Kyle Swanston (Spring Hill, Fla./Hernando) led all players with a career-high 21 points, including 5-for-9 shooting from the three-point arch. Junior forward Dazzmond Thornton (Denver, Colo./East) added a career-high 15 points on 5-of-6 shooting from the field and 5-for-5 at the free-throw line. Freshman forward Julius Wells (Toledo, Ohio/Libbey) added 11 points while making three of four three pointers. Junior guard Pierre Curtis (Denver, Colo./East) accumulated six points, nine rebounds, and six assists.

Chris Bethel, the season leading scorer, led Fordham with 18 points, despite being limited to six minutes in the first half in foul trouble. Jio Fontan contributed 16 points, including four of five shooting on three pointers in the second half. He also had eight assists and six boards.

JMU shot 47% for the game, including 65% (15 of 23) in the second half. The Dukes also hit 14 of 17 free throws (82%), while the Rams had only five opportunities, hitting three, as JMU committed just 10 personal fouls. FU shot 34% for the game, 18% in the first half and 56% in the second period. The Dukes committed just nine turnovers.

The Dukes held the Rams scoreless for seven minutes and 35 seconds during the 15-0 run to take a 23-10 lead. Swanston keyed the run with a pair of free throws and two three-point field goals to get it started. Senior guard Abdulai Jalloh (District Heights, Md./National Christian Academy) added a jumper and three pointer, and Thornton closed with a bucket.