James Madison shot 66 percent from the floor with 12 three-pointers and all 12 available players scored in a 99-68 Colonial Athletic Association victory over Towson on Wednesday night at the Convocation Center.
JMU improved to 12-3 overall and 2-1 in the CAA while Towson dropped to 4-9 overall and 0-3 in league play. The Dukes have won six in a row for the second time this season after not having a streak longer than five games since 1993-94. The 12-3 mark is tied for the program’s best 15-game record in Division I (1981-82, 1978-79). The Dukes are 7-0 at home for just the fourth time in Division I.
Redshirt sophomore forward Andrey Semenov (St. Petersburg, Russia/Blue Ridge School) contributed 20 of a season-high 55 points off the bench and hit 5-of-6 three-pointers to lead JMU.
The Dukes also got 16 points and 10 rebounds from junior forward Rayshawn Goins (Cleveland, Ohio/Glenville) for his fifth double-double of the season. Sophomore forward Trevon Flores (Harvey, La./Helen Cox) matched his career high with 11 points.
Nine different Dukes scored at least six points and JMU had its highest point output since scoring 110 in an overtime loss at Seton Hall on Dec. 22, 2007. JMU hit 35 of its 53 shots (66%), hit 12 three-pointers for the second straight game on 21 attempts (57%) and hit 85% of its free throws (17-of-20). The 66% shooting included 71% in the second half.
JMU assisted 26 of its 35 field goals. The 26 assists were two shy of the program’s Division I record and the most since posting 26 in an 89-85 win at William and Mary on Feb. 7, 1994.
Towson was led by Rayshawn Polk with 20 points. Josh Brown added 18 and Isaiah Philmore added 11 for the Tigers, who became the sixth JMU opponent in the last seven games to be held under 40% shooting (37.9%).
JMU led by 14 at the half and reached a 20-point margin with 15:40 remaining on the third three-pointer by junior forward Julius Wells (Toledo, Ohio/Libbey) in a span of one minute and 40 seconds. The lead ballooned to 29 points at 73-44 with 10:18 remaining and the Dukes coasted to their most lopsided conference victory since defeating the Tigers in Harrisonburg on Feb. 19, 2003 by an 87-56 score.
Two key possessions at the end of the first half gave the Dukes a 41-27 lead at the break. With 1:19 remaining, Semenov connected on his third trey of the half and hit a free throw for the four-point play. After a defensive stop on a Semenov block, Louis added a three from the left corner for a quick 7-0 run to account for the 14-point cushion.
Towson took its only lead of the game at 15-14 before Semenov embarked on a personal 8-0 run as part of an overall 10-0 burst for a 24-15 lead. The Tigers got no closer than six the rest of the half. Semenov had 12 in the half to lead JMU, which shot 59% for the period overall and 50% (5-10) on threes.
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