JMU BEATS TRIBE 70-48 IN CAA TOURNAMENT OPENER

Friday, March 6

Richmond, Va.

6 p.m.

James Madison University

19-13, 9-9CAA

William and Mary

10-20, 5-13CAA

William and Mary

James Madison

3/6/2009 5:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball

Box Score

RICHMOND, Va., March 6, 2009 ? Five James Madison players had points during a 17-2 second-half scoring burst that gave the Dukes control, and they went on to beat William & Mary 70-48 in the opening round of the men's Colonial Athletic Association Basketball Championship at the Richmond Coliseum Friday.

JMU led only 35-30 early during the final half but bolted to a 52-32 advantage with 10:55 remaining and recorded its first post-season win in six seasons.

The Dukes improved to 19-13 with the victory and advanced to Saturday's tournament quarterfinals to meet second-seeded George Mason (20-9), which had a first-round bye. JMU is the tournament's No. 7 seed.

William & Mary, which fell to JMU for the third time this season, finished the year with a 10-20 record. The Tribe was the tournament's No. 10 seed.

JMU led 32-25 at halftime after outscoring the Tribe 15-5 over the opening period's final 6:21. The Dukes were up 35-25 on freshman forward Julius Wells' (Toledo, Ohio/Libbey) three-point field goal less than a minute into the final half, but William & Mary closed to within 35-30 on a three-point play by Danny Sumner and two Quinn McDowell free throws with 17:25 left.

JMU then limited the Tribe to a single field goal over the next eight minutes while taking its 52-32 advantage.