Dukes win battle against Keydets

Freeman scores 22 points in victory

Chris Labzda / senior photographer JMU won its third-straight game Monday, defeating the VIrginia Military Institute, 76-65.

Thanks to junior guard Daniel Freeman's 22 points and a 14 to 5 run that opened the second half, JMU overcame a 32-28 halftime deficit to beat the Virginia Military Institute Keydets 76-65 Monday at the Convocation Center.

The non-conference victory now has the Dukes at 7-14 overall, and has increased their current winning streak to a season-high three games.

"As of late, since we started our second time through the Colonial Athletic Association, we've been playing our best ball," senior forward/guard Dwayne Broyles said. "Everything's starting to click."

Early on in the game, it seemed as if the Dukes would need to do a lot more than just "click" to hold down VMI, as the Keydets shot 50 percent from the floor in the first half in jumping out to their 4-point halftime advantage. The Keydets were paced by forward Radee Skipworth, who scored 13 of his game-high 26 points in the first half.

"I thought VMI came to play, and it was evident that they had done a great job scouting us," head coach Sherman Dillard said. "They were prepared and played well."

Still, the playing of Freeman and Broyles kept JMU in the game early and, eventually, the Dukes were able to put the Keydets away. Freeman made two big 3-point shots in the first half to keep JMU within striking distance. In the second half, with VMI down only 3 points, Freeman came up big again, hitting back-to-back 3-pointers to turn a 53-50 game into 59-52.

"Both Daniel and Dwayne have been coming up big as of late," Dillard said. "It's been the play of these two guys that has really helped us."

Broyles' overall effort included 16 points and six rebounds in 35 minutes. He also was five for six from the free-throw line.

"We expected a tough game from VMI, and we knew going into halftime that we had to come out with more intensity," Broyles said.

That intensity began right away, with red-shirt sophomore forward David Cooper's lay-up on JMU's first possession of the second half. Within two minutes, the Dukes had taken the lead for good on a pair of 3-pointers by freshman guard Ray Barbosa and two free throws from Broyles.

"We stepped up the defensive tenacity, and it helped create some easy buckets for us," Freeman said. "Ray and Dwayne both hit some big shots."

However, it was Freeman himself who put the game out of reach, hitting two free throws to give the Dukes an 8-point lead with 2:10 left to go in the game. Seconds later, Barbosa put the finishing touches on the win with a 3-pointer from the wing.

"Ray hitting that shot was definitely big," Freeman said. "I think it took a little wind out of them."

JMU shot over 53 percent from the floor in the second half, including 6 for 11 from beyond the arc. It outscored VMI 48-33 after halftime and put the clamps on the Keydets' 3-point shooting, allowing only two 3-pointers in the final 20 minutes.

"We got it together, came out and played a better second half," Broyles said. "Everyone got touches on offense. It's a lot of fun out there."

The Dukes played Old Dominion University Wednesday night in Norfolk. A final game score was not available at the time of production. JMU will next play the University of North Carolina-Wilmington Saturday at 7 p.m. in the Convocation Center.