Second-Half Comeback Falls Just Short at The Citadel

Tuesday, December 5

Charleston, S.C.

6 p.m.

James Madison University

3-7

The Citadel

4-5

James Madison

The Citadel

12/5/2017 10:34:00 PM | Men's Basketball

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CHARLESTON, S.C. - James Madison erased a 17-point second-half lead on Tuesday evening, but The Citadel used a pair of three-pointers in the final 47 seconds to erase the comeback and hand the Dukes an 84-82 loss in non-conference men's basketball action at the McAlister Field House.

The Dukes (3-7) put five players in double-figure scoring for the first time this season, but couldn't cool a high-powered Bulldog (4-5) offense that entered Tuesday averaging 88.9 points per game and shot 55.9 percent (33-of-59) from the field, including a scorching 19-of-31 (61.3 percent) clip in the first half.

Junior Stuckey Mosley again led the way with 19 points, seven boards and three steals, while freshman Darius Banks had his best game as a Duke with 17 points and six assists to go along with five rebounds and four steals, all career highs.

Junior Develle Phillips posted his third double-double in the last five games, racking up 10 points, 11 rebounds and three blocks, while senior Joey McLean added 13 points and five assists and freshman Matt Lewis chipped in 10 points, two rebounds and two assists while not committing a turnover in 27 minutes against The Citadel's high pressure.

JMU struggled with the Bulldogs' pace early, falling behind 7-0 and allowing The Citadel to lead by 10 three times in the first half. After the break, the Dukes fell further behind, as the Bulldogs took their final of three 17-point leads at 66-49 with 13:02. On the next possession, Mosley hit a three-pointer to jump-start a 24-5 run that gave the Dukes a 73-71 lead on a pair of free throws from Lewis with 5:17 to play.

JMU held that lead until the final seconds, when The Citadel banked in a three-pointer from the right corner to cut the advantage to one before drilling a pressured, fadeaway three from the left wing with 22 seconds left to take the 84-82 lead. The Dukes had a final look with three seconds left, but a short jumper caught backboard and iron as The Citadel grabbed the rebound to seal the win.

QUOTING COACH ROWE
"This was another tough one for us. It's sounding like a broken record, but this team is so tough. We just can't put ourselves in the kind of hole we dug today. We have to come out from the start with the type of energy we had late in the second half or else we're going to struggle to turn the corner."

QUICK HITS
- Freshman forward Greg Jones provided a huge spark off the bench on Tuesday, scoring a career-high six points and grabbing a career-high seven rebounds, six of which came on the offensive glass. Jones added his first career block for good measure across just 13 minutes.
- In all, the Dukes outrebounded The Citadel by a 42-30 margin, pulling down 15 offensive rebounds and holding the Bulldogs to just three.

UP NEXT
The Dukes stay on the road this coming weekend, as they head east to face in-state rival Richmond on its home court at 6 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 9. The Spiders, who are 1-7 on the year, will travel to Old Dominion on Wednesday, Dec. 6, before taking on JMU.