Dukes Cruise Past Drexel, 78-56

Thursday, February 4

Philadelphia, Pa.

7 p.m.

James Madison University

17-7 (7-4CAA)

Drexel

3-19 (1-10CAA)

JAMES MADISON

DREXEL

2/4/2016 11:13:00 PM | Men's Basketball

Box Score

PHILADELPHIA, Pa. - Junior forward Yohanny Dalembert notched his third double-double of the season and the Dukes had another standout defensive effort as James Madison bounced back with a 78-56 win over Drexel on Thursday evening in Colonial Athletic Association men's basketball action at the Daskalakis Athletic Center.

The Dukes held Drexel to 17-of-60 (28.3%) shooting from the field, including an 8-for-28 (28.6%) mark from long-range, as they improved to 17-7 (7-4 CAA) on the evening. The Dragons dropped to 3-19 (1-10 CAA) with the loss.

Dalembert ended a four-game stretch of single-digit scoring efforts in fine fashion in the win, racking up 15 points, 12 rebounds--a total that included six offensive boards--and three blocks in just 20 minutes of floor time.

Senior guard Ron Curry posted his 16th consecutive double-digit evening with a 16-point effort that included a trio of rebounds, while junior guard Shakir Brown added 13 points and eight rebounds of his own, just missing his sixth double-double of the year.

Drexel jumped out to an early lead, hitting three of its first four three-pointers to build a 13-4 lead over the Dukes in the first 5:22, but that would be the Dragons' largest advantage of the evening.

JMU would immediately go on a 21-3 run, with points coming from seven different scorers, to seize a 28-19 lead with 4:00 left before halftime. The Dukes would eventually push the difference as high as 15 before entering the break with a 36-23 lead.

Out of the break, the Dukes would hold Drexel scoreless for the first 3:18 of the second half, taking a 42-23 lead, an advantage that would never dip back below 16 points. JMU would eventually lead by as many as 24 at the 3:43 mark before closing out the contest.

By the final buzzer, all 13 available players had entered the game for JMU, with all but four tallying at least one point and all but two grabbing a rebound.

Kazembe Abif posted a 10-point, 10-rebound double-double to lead Drexel, while Sammy Mojica scored a team-high 12 points and Tavon Allen added 11.

QUOTING COACH BRADY
"I thought that our team played really solid for most of the 40 minutes. Drexel did a terrific job of coming out early and making some shots. They got up on us early, but we did a nice job of regrouping and coming back the rest of the way."

DOMINATING THE BOARDS
JMU rolled to a 49-35 advantage in the rebounding battle on Thursday, marking the 15th time this year that the Dukes have won the battle on the boards. In those games, JMU is 13-2 (4-2 CAA), while winning just two of the seven contests in which it has been outrebounded.

BIG ROAD WIN
Thursday night's margin of victory marked the first time in more than a year that the Dukes have won by at least 20 points on the road, a stretch that dates back to a 72-52 win at Ball State on Dec. 17, 2014. So far this season, JMU also has an 18-point win, a 14-point win and a pair of 12-point victories on opponents' home courts.

SPREADING THE LOVE
The Dukes racked up 16 assists in the victory, tied for their fourth-highest total of any game this season. Despite not scoring a point, sophomore guard Joey McLean led the way for JMU with five in just 15 minutes of floor time, while junior guard Jackson Kent added four.

AROUND THE CAA
After Thursday night's action, the Dukes are tied for fourth place in the league, which saw road teams win three of the five contests. UNCW downed Hofstra in a first-place battle to take over sole possession of top spot, while William & Mary bested Northeastern to earn a tie for second with the Pride.

UP NEXT
The Dukes return home this weekend for the first time since Jan. 28, as they play host to second-place Hofstra in a 3 p.m. contest. JMU handed the Pride an 86-82 defeat in overtime on Jan. 16 in Hempstead, but Hofstra will enter Sunday's game at 16-7 (8-3 CAA). The game is scheduled to be televised regionally on Comcast SportsNet.