JMU WINS FOURTH STRAIGHT, 72-64 OVER NORFOLK STATE

Wednesday, December 2

Home

7:00 p.m.

James Madison University

4-2

Norfolk State

1-6

Norfolk State

James Madison

12/3/2009 2:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball

Box Score

HARRISONBURG, Va., Dec. 2, 2009 – Senior guard Pierre Curtis (Denver, Colo./East) led five James Madison players in double figures in a 72-64 win over Norfolk State in a non-conference men's basketball game Wednesday evening at the Convocation Center.

JMU posted its fourth straight victory to improve to 4-2 on the season. Norfolk State dropped to 1-6 overall.

Curtis led a balanced scoring effort with a season-high 17 points to go with four assists and two steals. His three-point play with 59 seconds remaining in the opening period gave him 1,000 points in his career, becoming the 24th player in JMU history to reach the milestone.

Sophomore forward Julius Wells (Toledo, Ohio/Libbey) added 14 points, a team-high eight rebounds, and three assists. Sophomore forward Andrey Semenov (St. Petersburg, Russia/Blue Ridge School) returned from injury to post 12 points, four boards, and two blocks off the bench. Freshman guard Darren White (Danville, Va./Dan River) added 12 points while freshman forward Trevon Flores (Harvey, La./Helen Cox) had the best game of his young career with 11 points and seven boards, both season highs.

Norfolk State's Michael Deloach led all players with 25 points, 12 boards, three assists, and two steals for the Spartans. He had a double-double by halftime with 13 points and 10 rebounds. Rob Hampton added 14 points while Kyle O'Quinn contributed 11 points and six boards.

JMU held a 30-28 lead at the half after both teams had difficulties shooting from the onset. By the eight-minute media timeout, the teams were a combined 8-for-42 from the floor (19%) in a 12-10 game.

The Dukes held the lead from the start until the Spartans grabbed their first advantage on a pair of Deloach free throws with 2:44 left in the opening half.

After James Madison's halftime advantage, Norfolk State grabbed the lead back at 31-30 on a three by Deloach. However, JMU responded with a 12-2 run to earn the lead back for good and open up its largest lead to that point at 42-33 with 15:21 left.