Dukes Hold Off Charlotte in 87-82 Win

Saturday, December 2

Harrisonburg, Va.

8 p.m.

James Madison University

3-6

Charlotte

3-4

Charlotte

James Madison

12/3/2017 12:04:00 AM | Men's Basketball

Box Score @JMUMBasketball JMU MBB on Instagram Box Score Photo Gallery

HARRISONBURG, Va. - Junior forward Develle Phillips racked up a career-high 17 points and eight boards on Saturday night to help James Madison pick up an 87-82 win over Charlotte in non-conference men's basketball action at the JMU Convocation Center.

The Dukes (3-6) opened the game on a 10-0 run, stretching their lead to as many as 18 in the opening half and not allowing Charlotte (3-4) closer than six until the final 1:11 of the contest. JMU shot 30-of-61 (49.2 percent) from the field on the evening, holding the 49ers to 28-of-61 (45.9 percent).

Phillips posted his second straight double-digit scoring night, adding two blocks, a steal and an assist to his eight-rebound performance. Junior guard Stuckey Mosley led all scorers again, racking up 25 points on just 17 shots, while freshmen guards Darius Banks and Matt Lewis added 12 and 11, respectively, with Lewis tacking on six boards, four assists and a steal in 30 minutes off the bench.

JMU hit its first three shots, eventually connecting on nine of its first 13, to roar out to a 24-8 lead just 7:20 into the contest. Charlotte chipped away, closing to a six-point deficit before halftime before the Dukes used a 14-3 run on either side of the break to go back up 52-35 on the first possession of the second half.

The Dukes would eventually push the lead to 63-43 with 15:48 to play, but the hot-shooting 49ers would continue to close before JMU hit six of its nine free throws in the final minute to close things out.

QUOTING COACH ROWE
"I'm really happy with the guys and the way they bounced back after a couple tough losses. These guys continue to make me happy; I want to keep working this hard for them because they're working so hard. We have some things to clean up, but this was a good night for us."

QUICK HITS
- The Dukes controlled the paint throughout the contest, scoring 40 points in the paint, outrebounding Charlotte by a 39-33 margin and racking up six blocks, most on the season and most since tallying six against Drexel on Dec. 31, 2016.
- JMU's 87 points on Saturday was the highest scoring output in regulation of any JMU team in the last two seasons under Head Coach Louis Rowe.
- Senior Ramone Snowden continued to stuff the stat sheet for the Dukes, taking just four shots on Saturday but tallying four points, eight rebounds, five assists and a steal in 32 minutes of turnover-free play.
- Saturday's win marked the Dukes' first-ever victory over Charlotte. The 49ers had bested JMU four straight years from 1994-97 before last season's 65-56 win in Charlotte.

UP NEXT
The Dukes hit the road for the remainder of their non-conference slate, beginning with a 6 p.m. contest against The Citadel in Charleston, S.C. on Tuesday, Dec. 5. On Saturday, the Bulldogs dropped a 98-72 decision to UMBC to fall to 3-5 on the season.