Pride Pull Away for 71-66 Decision in JMU Home Finale

Saturday, February 25

Harrisonburg, Va.

Noon

James Madison University

9-22 (7-11CAA)

Hofstra

15-16 (7-11CAA)

Hofstra

James Madison

2/25/2017 2:49:00 PM | Men's Basketball

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HARRISONBURG, Va. - Hofstra used a 7-0 run in the game's closing minutes to pull away from James Madison and claim a 71-66 decision in the Colonial Athletic Association men's basketball regular-season finale for both teams on Saturday afternoon at the JMU Convocation Center.

The teams finished in a tie for seventh in the league standings with 7-11 CAA records. JMU (9-22) claimed the No. 7 seed in the upcoming CAA Championship via a tiebreaker, while HU (15-16) will be the No. 8 seed. The Dukes open tournament competition on Friday, March 3 with an 8:30 p.m. first-round contest against No. 10 Drexel.

Senior Shakir Brown led all scorers with 20 points for the Dukes along with five rebounds. Senior Ivan Lukic joined Brown in double figures with 10 points. Senior Jackson Kent added nine points, seven boards and seven assists. Seniors Dimitrije Cabarkapa and Tom Vodanovich as well as redshirt junior Ramone Snowden all had nine points apiece.

JMU trailed for much of the afternoon until a 9-0 burst over a span of two minutes in the second half to take a 51-47 lead with 8:06 remaining. The Dukes still led 57-56 with four minutes on the clock when the Pride reeled off their 7-0 run. JMU could get no closer than three in the closing minutes.

Sophomore Justin Wright-Foreman paced four Hofstra scorers in double figures with 19 points, though the Dukes held the high-scoring guard to 8-of-23 shooting from the field. Junior Rokas Gustys notched a double-double on the afternoon, racking up 15 points and 14 boards.

QUOTING COACH ROWE
"I knew there'd be a ton of emotion, with as many seniors as we had, but we came out too slow in the first half. We got our focus back in the second, but we have to put two halves together on both ends of the floor. Tonight was important to pay respect to our seniors, though, and I can't say enough about those guys and what they've meant to this team."

MARATHON MAN
Saturday marked the 127th career game for senior guard Jackson Kent, who is now in sole possession of third on JMU's all-time games played list. Kent sits just one game behind Ron Curry, who is second with 128 and five behind Andrey Semenov's record of 132.

UP NEXT
The Dukes will enter next week's CAA Tournament as the No. 7 seed and will be matched up with No. 10 Drexel in Friday evening's opening round at 8:30 p.m. JMU bested the Dragons in both regular-season matchups this season, picking up a 78-67 win to open CAA play at the Convo before winning a 70-64 decision in Philadelphia this past Thursday.