Mosley, Dukes Outrun Elon in Regular-Season Finale

Monday, February 26

Elon, NC

7 p.m.

James Madison University

10-21, 6-12CAA

Elon

14-17, 6-12CAA

James Madison

Elon

2/26/2018 11:15:00 PM | Men's Basketball

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ELON, N.C. - James Madison shot 49.1 percent (28-of-57) from the field on Monday night, as the Dukes kept pace with a hot-shooting Elon team and picked up a 90-84 win over the Phoenix in both teams' Colonial Athletic Association men's basketball regular-season finales at Alumni Gym.

After shooting 48.3 percent in the opening half, the Dukes (10-21, 6-12 CAA) improved to an even 50 percent (14-of-28) after the break to outrun the Phoenix (14-17, 6-12 CAA), who shot a healthy 48.4 percent (30-of-62) from the field.

The win moved JMU into the ninth seed for this week's CAA Tournament as part of a four-way tie for seventh place in the league standings.

Junior Stuckey Mosley led the offensive charge for the Dukes, hitting his first three three-pointers of the contest to open up a 29-point performance that included a 6-of-11 night from behind the arc and a perfect 7-of-7 game at the free throw line. Mosley added six rebounds and five assists for good measure on a night that saw him play 36 minutes without a turnover.

Freshman Darius Banks continued his run of good play, racking up 18 points with the help of three three-pointers, while freshman Matt Lewis battled through a tough shooting night to go 8-of-8 from the free throw line--all in the final 4:09 of the contest--on his way to 14 points and his 17th straight double-digit scoring night.

After the Dukes took a 43-32 lead into halftime, Elon came out on fire in the second half, hitting its first six shots and 11 of its first 14 before taking a 65-64 lead with 11:09 to play. However, the Dukes would retake the lead and the Phoenix would lead by one just once more as the Dukes began to keep pace.

With the score tied at 72-72 with 5:15 to play, the Dukes used a 6-0 run to take the lead for the final time, then held Elon to just two made field goals and went 12-of-13 from the free throw line across the final five minutes to seal the win.

QUOTING COACH ROWE
"This was a good win to get, especially on the road, as we get ready for this week's tournament. Getting into an offensive battle with Elon isn't easy and I think it speaks to this team that they were able to step up on the road and get a win. Now we have to get back to work and be ready to take things one game at a time this weekend at the tournament."

QUICK HITS
- The Dukes went 21-of-24 (87.5 percent) from the free throw line, marking their best performance at the charity stripe since hitting 22 of 24 free throws (91.7 percent) in a loss to West Virginia on Nov. 16, 2015.
- With freshman Matt Lewis scoring 14 points on the night, he now has 17 straight double-digit games and 23 total in his freshman season.
- Lewis also now has 448 points this year, moving past Kent Culuko (1991-92) and into third on JMU's Division I freshman scoring list, trailing only William Davis (1988-89; 472) and Steve Stielper (1976-77; 543).
- Junior Stuckey Mosley has now scored in double figures 28 times this season, ninth-most of any player in JMU's Division I history. Linton Townes (1981-82) and Steve Hood (1989-90) are tied for the record with 30 double-figure scoring performances in a single season.
- Freshman Dwight Wilson gave the Dukes crucial minutes off the bench, racking up six points and a game-high nine rebounds in just 15 minutes.
- Freshman Darius Banks tallied three blocks on Monday, the most of his career and the most this year for any JMU player besides junior Develle Phillips.
- Monday game marked the final men's basketball game ever to be played at Alumni Gym.

UP NEXT
With the regular season concluded, the Dukes will open up their CAA Tournament campaign on Saturday evening, with a 4 p.m. matchup against No. 8 Drexel at the North Charleston Coliseum. The Dragons (12-19, 6-12 CAA) and Dukes split the season series this year, with each team winning a two-point game on its home court.