Freshmen Shine in Tough Loss at Delaware

Saturday, February 24

Newark, Del.

4 p.m.

James Madison University

9-21, 5-12CAA

Delaware

13-18, 6-12CAA

James Madison

Delaware

2/24/2018 8:38:00 PM | Men's Basketball

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NEWARK, Del. - Freshmen scored 60 of James Madison's 66 points on Saturday evening, but Delaware closed the contest on an 9-1 run to hand the Dukes a tough 68-66 loss in Colonial Athletic Association men's basketball action at the Bob Carpenter Center.

The Dukes (9-21, 5-12 CAA) rebounded from a cold first half that saw them go 11-of-31 (35.5 percent), shooting 15-of-32 (46.9 percent) after the break, but Delaware (13-18, 6-12 CAA) hit from the floor at a 47.2 percent (25-of-53) rate for the game to pick up the back-and-forth win.

Freshman Matt Lewis continued his scoring tear, racking up 23 points to lead all scorers on the evening, while fellow freshman Darius Banks matched his career high with 20 to go along with six boards, two assists, a block and a steal in 37 minutes of turnover-free ball.

The Dukes' freshmen scored all but six of JMU's points on the night, including the Dukes' first 52 of the game, as Dwight Wilson tallied nine points and eight boards, Zach Jacobs chipped in six points, four rebounds and two assists and Greg Jones added two points and three rebounds. In all, the five players combined for only four turnovers and all three JMU steals across an average of 25.8 minutes per player.

After just two lead changes in the first half as the Dukes chipped away at an early nine-point deficit, the two teams combined for eight lead changes across the final 10:46 of the game alone. JMU would take a 65-59 lead, its biggest of the game, with 2:15 to play before the Blue Hens hit each of their final three field goals to overtake and hold off the Dukes.

QUOTING COACH ROWE
"This was another game where one or two plays made the difference; Delaware made them and we didn't. To see our young guys playing this well is great to see, but we need to make those couple of plays and see things through to the end."

QUICK HITS
- Saturday's loss marked the 14th game in the Dukes' last 16 that has been decided by single digits or in overtime.
- Freshman Matt Lewis has now scored 434 points this season, passing Julius Wells (2008-09) and taking over fourth place on JMU's Division I freshman single-season scoring list. Lewis is just one point behind Kent Culuko (1991-92; 435) in third place and 38 behind William Davis (1988-89; 472) for second.
- Freshman Darius Banks has 48 steals this season, second-most of any freshman since the Dukes moved to Division I in 1976-77. He trails record-holder Andre Nation by just four steals after Nation racked up 52 in 36 games in 2012-13.

UP NEXT
The Dukes will close out their regular season on Monday evening, when they travel to Elon for a 7 p.m. contest, one that was rescheduled from earlier this season.