Dukes Fall to Hofstra on Senior Night

Thursday, February 22

Harrisonburg, Va.

7 p.m.

James Madison University

9-20 (5-11CAA)

Hofstra

18-11 (11-6CAA)

Hofstra

James Madison

2/22/2018 11:08:00 PM | Men's Basketball

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HARRISONBURG, Va. - Hofstra stormed out to a 10-point lead in the first 10 minutes on Thursday night and did not allow James Madison any closer than seven the rest of the way, as the Dukes dropped a 77-61 Colonial Athletic Association men's basketball decision at the JMU Convocation Center.

The Dukes (9-20, 5-11 CAA) shot just 41.4 percent (24-of-58) for the game, including a 32 percent (8-of-25) clip in the opening stanza, while Hofstra hit at a blistering 26-of-46 (56.5 percent) clip on the evening.

Freshman Matt Lewis scored 16 of his game-high 23 points in the second half, hitting seven of his 12 shots after the break while pulling down a career-high eight boards on the evening. Junior Stuckey Mosley led three other Dukes in double figures with 12 points, while junior Develle Phillips and senior Ramone Snowden each added 10.

The Pride pushed their lead to as many as 15 before taking a 12-point lead into halftime, then used an 11-4 run out of the break to go up 46-27 with 15:25 to play. JMU threatened to cut into the lead multiple times across the second half, but could not close within 16 the rest of the way as Hofstra went 13-of-22 (59.1 percent) from the field in the final 20 minutes.

Eli Pemberton led the way for the Pride, racking up 22 points, six assists and five boards, while Jalen Ray added 15 points.

QUICK HITS
- Junior Stuckey Mosley tallied 12 points on the night, marking his 27th double-digit performance of the year, tied for ninth-most in a single season in JMU's Division I history.
- Freshman Matt Lewis has now scored 411 points this season, already fifth-most by a freshman in JMU's Division I history and just seven behind Julius Wells, who scored 418 in 2008-09.

QUOTING COACH ROWE
"That's the game you're worried about, the game when you come out and can't get it going. We just weren't us tonight, but we have to get back to work for another big one on Saturday."

UP NEXT
The Dukes hit the road for a pair of crucial games over the weekend, heading to Delaware on Saturday for a 4 p.m. contest before traveling south to close their regular season with a 7 p.m. bout at Elon on Monday evening. On Thursday night, Delaware saw a 34-point lead disappear as they dropped an 85-83 decision at Drexel to fall to 12-18 (5-12 CAA) on the season.