HARRISONBURG, Va. – The Eastern Kentucky University men's basketball team connected on 50 percent of its three-point attempts in a 70-66 win over James Madison Tuesday night at the JMU Convocation Center. The Colonels (5-1) led from start to finish over the Dukes (2-3).
Four players finished in double figures for Eastern as senior Julian Mascoll and sophomore Mike Rose each tallied 16 points. Freshman Adam Leonard (12 points) netted four three-pointers while fellow freshman Josh Taylor came off the bench to chip in with 10 tallies.
For James Madison, reserve Joe Posey recorded a game-high 17 points, 15 of which came from three-point shots. Meanwhile, forwards Juwann James and Terrance Carter combined for 25 points.
Three-pointers by Leonard and Rose quickly gave the Colonels an early 6-0 lead. Eastern recorded seven more long-range shots in the first half, helping the visitors establish an 18-point cushion, 31-13. However, six points in the paint and a pair of free throws by Carter allowed the Dukes to cut the deficit to 12 at the break, 34-22.
Eastern continued to hold a double-figure lead throughout most of the second half until Pierre Curtis netted two free throws with 4:47 remaining to bring James Madison within nine points, 59-48. Rose's lone three-pointer of the second stanza pushed the EKU advantage back to 11, 62-51, but a couple of Colonel turnovers and missed free throws allowed the Dukes to claw to within six points, 62-56, with just under two minutes left.
Down the stretch, Mascoll and Rose went 6-of-8 (75 percent) at the free throw line to keep James Madison at bay. The Dukes never managed to get closer than five points until Posey hit a three-pointer with just four ticks showing on the clock.
The Colonels shot a season-best 53.3 percent (24-of-45) from the field in the win while hitting 13-of-26 (50 percent) three-point attempts.
This was the first-ever meeting between the two programs and the first time EKU faced a CAA opponent in 10 years.
Eastern finishes its three-game road swing at rival Western Kentucky on Saturday, Dec. 2, in the Battle of the Bluegrass. Tip time is slated for 8 p.m.
