Basketball: Friday night recap

By Tim Chapman, sports editor
Posted on November 9, 2007

There’s always hype and higher expectations going into a JMU basketball season.

But it’s hard to say that anyone expected 100 points, five players in double figures and 75 percent shooting in the second half.

In a debut for a number of JMU players, transfers and freshman, the Dukes handled Siena College 100-88 in a rematch of last year’s ESPN Bracket Buster matchup.

Junior forward Juwann James led the way with 20 points for the Dukes who outscored the Saints 26-12 in the paint. Senior swingman Terrence Carter also chipped in 15 points.

Siena sophomore Edwin Ubiles presented problems for Madison’s defense as he scored 27 points despite having various defenders try to guard him.

In junior guard Abdulai Jalloh’s much-anticipated debut in purple and gold, the former St. Joseph’s Hawk scored 15 points and ripped down six boards. Jalloh showed his poise late in the game when he let the shot clock drop below 10 on consecutive possessions before nailing two pull-up jumpers.

Freshman guard Heiden Ratner gave the Dukes a tough man-to-man defender when sophomore Pierre Curtis was in foul-trouble.

JMU junior Kyle Swanston gave the Dukes a spark when he hit three consecutive 3-point field goals to give JMU a lead it wouldn’t relinquish over the last ten minutes. Swanston finished with 13 points.

The Dukes will play at Dartmouth next Saturday.