First-Half Surge Propels Tribe Past Dukes, 84-65

Saturday, January 31

Harrisonburg, Va.

4 p.m.

James Madison University

13-10, 6-4CAA

William & Mary

14-7, 8-2CAA

William & Mary

James Madison

1/31/2015 6:37:00 PM | Men's Basketball

Box Score

HARRISONBURG, Va. – Despite career-highs of 19 points and six made 3-pointers from sophomore guard Jackson Kent (High Point, N.C./High Point Christian), James Madison dropped an 84-65 decision to William and Mary in Colonial Athletic Association men's basketball action Saturday afternoon at the JMU Convocation Center.

The loss dropped the Dukes to 13-10 overall and 6-4 in the CAA while the Tribe improved to 14-7 overall and took sole possession of first place in the league at 8-2.

W&M led 12-8 early but used a 25-0 run--while holding JMU scoreless for a span of 10:02--to take a commanding 37-8 lead with 6:31 left in the first half to give the visitors a substantial enough lead to run away with the win.

Daniel Dixon led the Tribe with a career-high 25 points on 9-for-13 shooting and also knocked down five treys in the win. Omar Prewitt shot 9-for-11 from the floor to finish with 21 points while Marcus Thornton contributed 17 points. Terry Tarpey, who had a triple-double in the last meeting with the Dukes, finished with a double-double of 12 points and game highs of 10 rebounds and four steals.

Kent provided 19 points for JMU for the second straight game after going 6-for-9 from beyond the arc, notching the single-most made threes in a game for the sophomore. Junior guard Ron Curry (Pennsauken, N.J./Paul VI) scored 14 of his 16 points in the season half, while dishing out a game-best six assists and tying a season high with three steals. Junior guard Winston Grays (Cleveland, Ohio/Benedictine (Cincinnati State)) also provided 12 points after draining a career-high four 3-pointers.

The Tribe shot 60.4 percent (32-53) from the floor, which marked the first time a team shot at least 60 percent since Feb. 9, 2008. They were also 57.9 percent (11-19) from 3-point range en route to sweeping the season series with JMU for the second straight season.

JMU finished the game at 43.8 percent (21-48) overall but was proficient from long range, making 50 percent (14-28) of its 3-point tries. The 14 made treys were the most of the season for the Dukes and the most since they converted 15 treys against Rider on Nov. 25, 2011.

W&M held a slim 29-26 rebounding edge and forced JMU into 19 turnovers, tying for the second-most in a game this year. The Tribe outscored the Dukes 36-14 in the paint and 23-10 off turnovers.

After falling behind by 29 after the 25-point surge by W&M, the Dukes ended the first stanza on a 15-6 run to make it 43-22 at halftime. Early in the second, the Tribe extended the lead back to 29 at 56-27 just over three minutes into the half, matching the largest lead of the day.

Trailing 62-39, the Dukes made a run, scoring eight in a row, which was capped off by a pair of Kent treys to get JMU to within 62-47. However, it would be the closest the team would get as the Tribe grew the lead back to as high as 26 five minutes later.

The Dukes complete their three-game homestand on Wednesday, Feb. 4 when it hosts UNCW for a 7 p.m. tip at the JMU Convocation Center.

Click here to purchase individual ticket to the game. Fans who are unable to attend can also watch the game live on MadiZONE HD SportsNet, presented by the JMU Alumni Association, or listen on the JMU/nTelos Wireless Broadcast Network or on the local airwaves at WSVA 550 AM and 92.1 FM. Saturday's game will be sponsored by the JMU Bookstore. For a full listing of promotions all season long, click here.