SWANSTON SPARKS JMU TO BRACKETBUSTERS WIN

Saturday, February 23

Harrisonburg, Va.

2 p.m.

James Madison University

12-15

Morehead State

14-13

Morehead State

James Madison

2/23/2008 5:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball

Box Score

HARRISONBURG, Va., Feb. 23, 2008 ? Junior forward Kyle Swanston (Spring Hill, Fla./Hernando) hit on his first six shots ? all from three-point range ? to spark James Madison to a big early lead, and the Dukes went on to beat Morehead State 89-57 in the ESPNU BracketBusters men's basketball series at the JMU Convocation Center Saturday.

Swanston, who finished with a season-high 19 points and career-best for three-pointers, hit for a three-pointer on the game's opening possession and had three of the long-ranged field goals by the 17:28 mark of the first half and his sixth by the period's 6:32 mark when JMU led 33-16.

The Dukes, who improved to 12-15 with the victory, led 39-29 at halftime, held off a burst that got the Eagles to within 39-33 early during the final half and regained control with an 11-0 scoring run. JMU's lead wasn't fewer than 13 points during the final 16 minutes or less than 16 points during the final 9:13.

Morehead State, which plays in the Ohio Valley Conference, fell to 14-13 with the loss.

Swanston hit on six of 10 shots for the game and added four rebounds, an assist and a steal in 35 minutes. He was only one point off his career scoring high of 20 points, set a year ago against Virginia Military Institute, and he led four JMU players in double figures in scoring.

Swanston helped JMU hit on 12 of 21 three-point tries (57.1 percent) for the game, and the Dukes also hit on 57.1 percent of their shots overall from the field (28-49). Their three-point total and three-point percentage were season-best marks, and the overall shooting effort was their best since their third game of the season.

JMU held Morehead State to 43.4 percent shooting (23-53) overall and 26.7 percent (4-15) from three-point range and t