 JAMES MADISON 61, KENT STATE 50 DUKES ON A ROLL
James Madison (10-3, 0-1 CAA) picked up its fourth consecutive win as the Dukes reached the 10-win mark this early in a season for the first time since 1986-87.
“It was not a well-played game,” JMU head coach Matt Brady said after the game. “I thought we played a stretch of six good minutes in the first half, and a stretch of seven in the second half. But we’re excited for our win against a tough Kent State team.”
Junior Rayshawn Goins led the way for JMU with 13 points and 13 rebounds. Humpty Hitchens added 11 (going 3-of-6 from three point range) and Julius Wells added 10 as James Madison became the first team to defeat KSU at home since Bowling Green last January 17, 76-70. JMU also became the first non-conference team to win at the MAC Center since Wisconsin-Green Bay on November 15, 2009 in the Hispanic College Fund Classic. James Madison plays in the Colonial Athletic Conference.
FLASHES STRUGGLING?
In losing, Kent State (9-5) dropped consecutive games for the second time this season. The Flashes have lost four of their last six going into Mid-American Conference play, which opens up on Saturday January 8 at arch-rival Akron.
“We made nothing today,” KSU head coach Geno Ford said afterward. “They (JMU) looked like a team that was in late season form, and we looked disjointed, especially on offense.”
Senior guard Rodriguez Sherman led all scorers with 17 points (along with five assists), while junior forward Justin Greene added 14 points and 12 rebounds as he rebounded from scoring just two points in 76-59 loss at Morehead State on Tuesday with his sixth double-double of the season.
The visitors from Virginia scored five of the game’s first six points before KSU scored the next eight points to take a 9-5 lead at the 14:12 mark on a steal and slam dunk by freshman guard Eric Gaines.
JMU countered with an 18-6 spurt to open up its largest lead of the first half, 23-18, at the 4:30 mark on two Devon Moore free throws. After KSU used a 10-2 run to regain a 28-25 lead with 36 remaining on two Randal Holt free throws, a pair of foul shots by Andrey Semenov narrowed Kent State’s halftime lead to a single point at 28-27
Neither team shot the ball particularly well in the first 20 minutes. KSU had the lead but shot just 38.5% from the field (10-for-26) and was just 3-for-8 from the free throw line. James Madison hit just 9-of-27 from the floor but was a perfect 7-for7 at the free throw line and had a 20-16 rebounding edge.
HITCHENS BACK – THIS TIME AS A DUKE
The Dukes started to take control of the game early in the final period. They opened the half with a 12-2 run to take a lead they would not relinquish. Hitchens’ three-pointer from the right arc made it a 39-32 game with 14:28 remaining.
The junior guard played his first two seasons of college ball in the MAC at Akron, but he left the program at the end of last season and decided to transfer to JMU, where he has been a solid player, starting every game so far this season for the Dukes.
“He has added a lot to our program in a lot of things.” Brady said. “He has added a measure of toughness to our club both mentally and physically. I don’t think our record would be what it is if it weren’t for him.”
The Dukes’ run actually started with a slam by Denzel Bowles. The senior forward, who was averaging 18.6 points per game coming into the contest and came in off a 34-point 13-rebound effort in JMU’s last game against Marshall, was held scoreless in the first half. In 15 minutes of playing time during the first half, he missed his only shot from the field and registered two rebounds and three turnovers. He finished the game with just nine points the second lowest scoring game of the season for him.
LAST RUN
JMU’s largest lead of the game was 14-points, 55-41, with 6:18 remaining on a layup by Goins. Kent State made one last run to get back into the game narrowing the deficit to eight ,57-49, with 1:45 remaining on a Sherman free throw. But the Dukes closed the game out with three foul shots (two by Semanov and one by Goins) to seal the victory.
“From the early part of the second half on, they were a much better basketball team.” Ford said. “We’ve got to find a way to play harder.”
What was the key to the second half? The Golden Flashes shot just 8-for-34 in the second 20 minutes (1-for-14 from three-point range, with most of them coming in the closing moments). KSU ended the game at just 30 percent shooting from the floor (18-for-60) and 4-for-21 from beyond the arc.
“We held them to 37 percent and had only 11 turnovers - the second half it was unbelievable.” Ford said. “It was as bad a shooting performance by a group that we’ve had in a long time.”
UPON FURTHER REVIEW
KEY MOMENT: James Madison went on a 12-2 run at the start of the second half to open a seven-point lead 39-32 and would not relinquish the advantage for the remainder of the game
STAR OF THE GAME: RAYSHAWN GOINS: JAMES MADISON. The junior transfer from Cleveland, Ohio had 14 points and 13 rebounds. After Goins scored just seven points in his previous two games, he was a key contributor, especially with leading scorer Denzel Bowles struggling to score
KEY STAT OF THE GAME: Kent State’s second half field goal shooting was just 30 percent (8-for-34) (The Flashes were also 1-for-14 from three-point range).
NOTES: The game was the third lifetime meeting (second at the MAC Center), with James Madison holding a 2-1 advantage…The game marked the fifth time in Kent State history the Flashes have played on New Years Eve (the first since 2001 vs Saint Bonaventure)…Kent State is 5-6 lifetime against the Colonial Athletic Association, absorbing their first loss since December 22, 2004 vs Old Dominion 64-59…First lifetime meeting between KSU head coach Geno Ford and JMU head man Matt Brady…JMU is 2-0 against the MAC this season after defeating Eastern Michigan in Harrisonburg on November 27 74-68…James Madison has used the same starting lineup in all 13 games so far this season
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