HARRISONBURG, Va. - James Madison shot a blistering 66 per cent from the floor and at times couldn't miss from beyond the arc in handing Towson its worst loss of the season in a 99-68 Colonial Athletic Association setback Wednesday night.
The Dukes ran their win streak to six improving to 12-3 overall and 2-1 in the league. The Tigers dropped to 4-9 and 0-3.
The Tigers fell behind early in the 33rd meeting between the two schools. But just as quickly they caught the Dukes at 7-7. From there the Tigers had an answer for every JMU bucket and actually grabbed the lead, 15-14, on a Braxton Dupree layup. That, however, would prove to be Towson's only lead of the game.
On JMU's next trip down the floor Andre Semenov buried his first three-pointer to give the Dukes a lead, 17-15, it would not surrender. Semenov's trey started a decisive 10-0 run that Brian Morris finally ended with a triple of his own. Semenov, coming off the bench, would finish with a team high 20 points on 5 of 6 shooting from way out and a 5-5 showing the free throw line. JMU as a team hit 12 of 21 three-point attempts.
The Tigers would get no closer than six points (26-20) the rest of the game. The Dukes scored seven points on two plays in the final 1:17 of the first period. Semenov was fouled on a made three-pointer and converted the free throw. Ben Louis followed with a trey that sent the Dukes into the lockeroom with a 41-27 lead.
Julian Wells, who had set a JMU record with a 9 for 11 performance from beyond the arc against Northeastern this past Monday night, got the Dukes off to a fast start in the second half by sinking three quick treys as JMU boosted its lead to 57-37. Wells would be held to those nine points but he was responsible for igniting the Dukes in the second half.
The Dukes slowly pulled out of sight, using their hot shooting (23 of 31 for 71% in the second half) to post their seventh straight win at home, a streak that stretches back to last season. JMU led by as many as 32 (97-65) late.
"You pick your poison," said Tiger head coach Pat Kennedy. "We're playing the match ups in the zone to try to negate their play in the paint and they just lit it up from the outside. A lot of things went their way for all the right reasons."
Towson shot 38 per cent from the floor and was outrebounded 37-20.
RaShawn Polk, still recovering from an injury that has limited his play in the last three games, paced the Tigers with 20 points off the bench. Josh Brown added 18 points and Isaiah Philmore chipped in with 11 and a team high five rebounds. Dupree, the league's second leading rebounder, was held to six points and just three boards.
The Tigers are back in action again this Saturday when they face the Georgia State Panthers in Atlanta. The game will b e carried on WTMD (89.7 FM) Radio. Opening tip is scheduled for 6:00 p.m.
