JMU TOPS TRIBE FOR THIRD STRAIGHT WIN

Saturday, January 10

Williamsburg, Va.

7 p.m.

James Madison University

11-6, 3-2CAA

William and Mary

6-9, 1-4CAA

James Madison

William and Mary

1/10/2009 5:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball

Box Score

WILLIAMSBURG, Va, Jan. 10, 2009 ? Senior forward Kyle Swanston (Spring Hill, Fla./Hernando) had a game-high 21 points, including hitting for a three-point field goal that put his team in front to stay, as James Madison came from behind for a 74-65 Colonial Athletic Association men's basketball victory at William & Mary Saturday.

JMU trailed 14-2 and 23-9 before tying the score by halftime and going ahead to stay, 37-35, on Swanston's three-pointer with 14:19 to play. Swanston's field goal came during a 13-0 JMU scoring burst that gave the Dukes a 44-35 lead at 12:45, and they sealed the victory by hitting on 15 of 16 free throws during the final 3:16.

JMU improved to 11-6 overall and to 3-2 in the CAA with its third win of the week. William & Mary fell to 6-9 overall and to 1-4 in the conference.

Joining Swanston in double figures in scoring for the Dukes were junior guard Pierre Curtis (Denver, Colo./East) and sophomore guard Heiden Ratner (Las Vegas, Nev./Silverado) with 13 points each. Curtis hit on eight of nine free throws for the game, including six straight during the final 3:16. Ratner set a season scoring high while hitting of four of six shots from the field, including two from three-point range. Ratner also had three assists and a career-high seven rebounds in 29 minutes.

JMU hit on nine of 14 shots from the field (64 percent) during the final half and converted on 24 of 27 free throws (89 percent) during the final period. The Dukes were 27 for 30 (90 percent) from the foul line overall.