Dukes Drop Overtime Heartbreaker at Hofstra

Saturday, February 5

Hempstead, N.Y.

2 p.m.

James Madison University

13-8,4-6CAA

Hofstra

14-9,6-4CAA

OT 1

James Madison

Hofstra

2/5/2022 6:24:00 PM | Men's Basketball

Box Score Box Score

HEMPSTEAD, N.Y. - James Madison fought back from double-digit deficits in both halves to force overtime on Saturday afternoon, but dropped an 85-78 heartbreaker to Hofstra in men's basketball action at the David S. Mack Sports and Exhibition Complex.

The Dukes (13-8, 4-6) battled throughout, shooting 47.7% (31-65) from the field and hitting eight of 20 three-pointers, but Hofstra guard Aaron Estrada racked up 35 points, including nine in the overtime period, as the Pride (14-9, 6-4) held off JMU on their home court.

Graduate student Charles Falden led the Dukes, racking up a career-high 25 points - including the 1,000th of his collegiate career - while redshirt junior Vado Morse added 21 of his own. Graduate student Alonzo Sule tallied 10 points and four boards in just 15 minutes.

Estrada's career night paced Hofstra, with guards Zach Cooks and Darlinstone Dubar joining him in double figures with 16 and 12 points, respectively.

HOW IT HAPPENED
First Half
The two teams went back and forth in the opening minutes, with neither team leading by more than four points until Hofstra used 11 straight points to build a 23-13 advantage at the 9:19 mark.

Morse immediately responded with three-pointers on back-to-back possessions and the Dukes would chip away the rest of the half, scoring the final five points of the period to go into the break down just one point at 31-30.

Second Half
Both sides found their shot out of halftime, with each team hitting five of its first seven attempts as on their way to five ties in the opening seven minutes before the Pride got a 15-3 run that made it 59-49 with 11:07 to play.

Again, the Dukes responded immediately, putting together an 11-3 run that brought JMU back within two. Hofstra would push the lead back to seven with 2:48 to play, but the Dukes would not allow another point the remainder of regulation.

With 37 seconds left, Falden drilled a deep three-pointer to cut the lead to 71-69, then assisted on a tie-up in the backcourt that gave the Dukes the ball on the possession arrow. Morse would hit a driving layup with 8.9 seconds left and JMU got a final stop to force overtime.

Overtime
In the extra period, the Dukes took an early 72-71 lead, but Hofstra got an immediate three-pointer from Dubar before Estrada took over, hitting four of his five shots - including a three-pointer - and providing the finishing touches on the victory with a midrange jumper that made it 83-78 with just 23 seconds left.

QUICK HITS
- After scoring 21 on Saturday, Morse now has seven games of 20 or more points in his last 10 outings.
- Saturday marked the Dukes' second OT game this season, after going the last two seasons without one.
- With his Saturday performance, Falden became the third different JMU player to score 25 points in a game this season, the most in one year for the Dukes since the 2018-19 campaign.
- Redshirt freshman Tyree Ihenacho pulled down seven boards for the second straight game after returning from injury on Thursday.

UP NEXT
The Dukes close out their three-game road trip on Monday evening, heading to Philadelphia to take on Drexel at 7 p.m. The Dragons were idle on Saturday, but picked up a 76-68 win over Delaware on Thursday to improve to 10-10 (5-5) on the season.