Dukes Go Cold Late in Loss at Western Michigan

Saturday, December 10

Kalamazoo, MI

1 p.m.

James Madison University

1-8

Western Michigan

3-6

James Madison

Western Michigan

12/10/2016 4:43:00 PM | Men's Basketball

Box Score Box Score @JMUMBasketball 2016-17 Schedule 2016-17 Statistics

KALAMAZOO, Mich. - Senior forwards Tom Vodanovich and Yohanny Dalembert combined for 26 second-half points against Western Michigan on Saturday afternoon, but a lengthy scoreless stretch in the waning minutes felled James Madison, 74-67, in non-conference men's basketball action at University Arena.

The Dukes (1-8) were accurate on the day, going 26-for-50 (52 percent) from the field and 9-for-17 (52.9 percent) from the three-point line, but WMU (3-6) held them scoreless from the 5:34 mark until just 18 seconds remained in the contest, a stretch that saw the Broncos turn a 59-52 JMU lead into a 68-59 WMU advantage.

Vodanovich dominated after the break, scoring 16 of his career-high-tying 18 points in the second half on a 7-for-9 shooting performance saw him make all five shots from inside the arc and go 2-for-4 on three-pointers. The senior tacked on three boards, three assists and two steals in his best outing of the season.

Dalembert nearly matched his frontcourt companion after halftime, going 4-for-5 from the field in the second half to pick up 10 of his 14 points, adding six rebounds and three steals along the way. Senior guard Jackson Kent went 4-for-7 from the three-point line to finish with 16 points, four rebounds and four assists on the afternoon.

JMU used a 7-0 run from the 12:56 mark in the second half to the 9:34 mark to run out to its first of three seven-point leads, but after Vodanovich made a layup with 5:34 to play to make it 59-52, the Dukes would not score again until Kent hit a layup with 18 seconds left that cut the Broncos' lead to 68-61.

Kent would lead a furious charge in the final seconds, draining a pair of three-pointers to trim things to 70-67, but the Dukes would get no closer, as WMU made all six of its free throws in the final 18 seconds to close things out.

Reggie Jones led the way for WMU, scoring 20 of his game-high 24 points in the second half and sinking 11 of his 12 free throws. Thomas Wilder added 22 points, while forward Drake Lamont tallied 12, including 10 before halftime.

QUOTING COACH ROWE
"This one felt a little self-inflicted for us. Western Michigan is a good team and give them credit for taking advantage, but we lost our way on both ends of the floor towards the end of the game. The guys fought, but we got away from the game plan late and you can't expect to do that and win."

UP NEXT
The Dukes will close out a five-game road trip next week when they travel to Appalachian State for a 1 p.m. contest on Saturday, Dec. 17, in Boone, N.C. The Mountaineers have started 2-5 this season, but will face both Montreat College (Dec. 11) and NC State (Dec. 15) this week, prior to welcoming JMU to Boone.