Swanston leads Dukes past Eagles
Junior hits his first six from beyond-the-arc as JMU improves to 12-15
Posted on February 25, 2008
Just 30 seconds into Saturday’s game Kyle Swanston stroked a 3-pointer from the top of the key and strutted back on defense with an aura of confidence. He had confidence for a good reason.
The junior forward out of Spring Hill, Fla. hit his first six 3-pointers of the game and finished with 19 points to lead JMU past Morehead State 89-57.
“Give Swanston credit for making those shots because we did everything we could to get to him,” MSU coach Donnie Tyndall said.
The win for JMU comes in the wake of losing 10 out of its last 11 games and coach Dean Keener announcing that he will resign after the season. Keener believes the win says more about bouncing back from a Wednesday loss to Old Dominion than the current coaching situation.
“I don’t think that [resigning as head coach] had anything to do with today’s game,” Keener said. “They just were ready to come back [and] prove themselves, and they did.”
JMU shot well throughout the game, averaging 57 percent from the field and making 12 shots from behind-the-arc. Junior guard Abdulai Jalloh tallied 17 and sophomore point guard Pierre Curtis added 13 points, while senior forward Terrance Carter scored 11 inside.
“Making shots not only helps that individual, but it helps your team,” Keener said, referring to Swanson’s spark. “You’re able to jump back to whatever defense you want and your opponent does not have the chance to get any ‘home run’ plays like alley-oops.”
Defense was a catalyst for JMU, as it forced 18 MSU turnovers, including two 10-second violations.
“A big point was us not being able to handle their 1-2-2 press.” Tyndall said. “Their energy level defensively was better today than it has been at times this year.”
With the win, the Dukes will attempt to build momentum as they face Drexel and Georgia State before the Colonial Athletic Association tournament in Richmond on March 7.
Although Keener downplayed the effect that his resignation had on the lopsided victory, Tyndall felt differently. He said that teams either come out flat and get beat by about 20 or 30, or they come back excited and want to play for their coach.
“I think that’s a tribute to Dean and his staff that they came out and I thought played with an unbelievable energy level,” Tyndall said.
