Guards lift Patriots to win

Late first half run sinks JMU

Carolyn Walser / senior photographer Junior guard Jomo Belfor drives to the basket. Belfor finished with a career-high 20 points.

In the absence of JMU coach Dean Keener, the men’s basketball team lost to conference rival George Mason University Saturday night 77-58 at the Convocation Center.

Wednesday night against Towson University, Keener was ejected after receiving two technical fouls. He was suspended from coaching against the Patriots Saturday because of this.

"It’s difficult not having your head coach, but we have full faith in Dean leading although he wasn’t there," sophomore forward Cavell Johnson said. "But we also don’t have any doubt in the assistants to take that head role, and they did tonight and led well."

Keener said, "It’s tough not being with your team, and it’s a position you don’t want to have to be in again."

Both teams entered the night at the bottom of the conference, with the Patriots at 2-4 in the Colonial Athletic Association and JMU at 1-5.

Heading into the game, GMU was on a three-game losing streak. The Dukes had lost their last two contests.

The Dukes played well defensively until the last two minutes of the first half. The Patriots finished play before intermission on a 10-0 run to take a 31-20 lead.

JMU would cut the lead to 37-30, but the Dukes would not get closer.

"The run at the end of the half gave them momentum, and they kept screening for their guards," freshman center Gabriel Chami said. "They just hit tough shots when they were open and being guarded."

The guards Chami referred to were the GMU backcourt of Lamar Butler and Tony Skinn. The two combined for 41 of GMU’s 77 points.

"It’s tough to switch off on a guard like Skinn from a big man’s role because he likes to drive the lane," Johnson said. "But he got to the paint well and was very effective."

On JMU’s side, junior guard Jomo Belfor topped his season high, 18-point performance at Towson, by scoring 20 points against the Patriots. He had eight rebounds and two steals.

"Jomo has definitely stepped it up and that’s what is expected of him," Johnson said. "But he also has a spark to get our offense going and always stays positive."

Chami added that Belfor got more open looks from three-point range against GMU.

Belfor hit three of five from the perimeter.

"There’s going to be nights where he can hit two, three or four 3-pointers," Keener said. "But we also need another threat on the perimeter to keep teams from smothering Ray Barbosa."

Barbosa is JMU’s primary scoring threat, with senior guard Daniel Freeman out with a foot injury.

The two big men for Madison, Chami and Johnson, combined for 24 points to lead the Dukes in scoring behind Belfor. Johnson had seven rebounds and three blocks and Chami was eight of ten from the foul line.

"[Johnson] statistically looks well, but I think he still has more to give us and is very capable," Keener said. "He can’t continue to rely on only athleticism when on defense.

"I thought Gabe held on to the ball well in the second half and I’m ultimately hoping he can draw attention in the low post to free up other players."

JMU falls to 3-12 on the season and 1-6 in conference. The Dukes head to Virginia Commonwealth University Wednesday for another conference matchup. Game time is 7 p.m.