NORTHEASTERN TOPS DUKES IN CAA MEN'S TOURNAMENT

Friday, March 7

Richmond, Va.

8:30 p.m.

James Madison University

13-17

Northeastern

14-16

James Madison

Northeastern

3/7/2008 5:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball

Box Score

RICHMOND, Va., March 7, 2008 ? Chaisson Allen and Baptiste Bataille had three-point field goals on consecutive second-half Northeastern possessions to give their team control, and the Huskies went on to beat James Madison 73-55 in the first round of the Colonial Athletic Association Men's Basketball Tournament at the Richmond Coliseum Friday.

JMU rallied from a 38-25 halftime deficit to within 49-46 on sophomore guard Pierre Curtis' (Denver, Colo./East) layup with 9:50 left in the game. However, Allen and Bataille three-pointers at the 9:28 and 8:47 marks, respectively, put Northeastern up 55-46, and JMU never was closer again.

The Dukes had turnovers on consecutive possessions after getting to within three points, and the Northeastern lead reached 60-46 with 4:16 left.

The win raised Northeastern's record to 14-16 and sents the sixth-seeded Huskies into Saturday's 8:30 p.m. tournament quarterfinal game against third-seeded George Mason.

JMU finished the season with a 13-17 record.

Curtis had 10 of his 12 second-half points while JMU was rallying to within 49-46, and the Dukes shot 56.5 percent (13-23) during the final period. Northeastern, however, shot 52.2 percent (24-46) for the game, put five players in double figures in scoring, and had a 30-23 rebounding edge.

The Huskies used 17-5 scoring run over the opening half's final 5:36 to take their 13-point halftime edge. Forward Eugene Spates came off the bench for eight points during the final 3:24 of the half, and Bataille had a three-pointer with 1:33 left in the period.