November 22, 2003
NDOYE'S 32 NOT ENOUGH AS FURMAN FALLS TO JAMES MADISON, 78-72
Harrisonburg, Va. -- Freshman guard Ray Barbosa poured in 19 of his team-high 28 points in the first 20 minutes, staking James Madison to a 38-26 halftime lead, and the Dukes held off Furman's Paladins for a 78-72 victory in men's non-conference college basketball Saturday night at the JMU Convocation Center. It was the season opener for both teams.
Barbosa's effort helped offset a career night for Furman senior forward Maleye Ndoye, who dropped in a career-high 32 points. Ndoye kept his team within striking distance by hitting 14 of 18 free throws, and he went 8-of-16 from the floor, including a pair of three-pointers.
Barbosa sparked the Dukes' key run midway through the first half, stepping off the bench to score six straight points. With JMU trailing 12-11 at the 11:38 mark, junior guard Daniel Freeman started the Dukes on a 12-0 run with a traditional three-point play before Barbosa began to heat up.
Redshirt freshman guard Ulrich Kossekpa netted a three-pointer to cap the run and give the Dukes a 23-11 advantage with 7:24 to play in the half. Barbosa continued his hot shooting, connecting for three straight three-pointers and the Dukes led 34-17 with 3:24 to go.
Ndoye scored the Paladins' last seven points to get the visitors to within 12 at the break. He continued to carry his team as the second half got underway, scoring the Paladins' first six. Redshirt freshman forward Bobby Bostain, who finished with 11 points, scored on a layup with 16:32 remaining to cut the Dukes' lead to 42-34.
JMU maintained an eight-to-13 point lead over the next 10 minutes. Ndoye's final charge came by way of a pair of free throws and his final field goal, and was followed by back-to-back jumpers by sophomore guard Tony Carter. The surge brought the Paladins to within 64-60 with 4:54 remaining. Carter's two free throws got his squad to within 68-65 with 2:35 to go, but that was as close as the Southern Conference members would get
While the freshman inspired the Dukes, it was the upperclassmen who secured the victory in the closing moments. Senior swingman Dwyane Broyles scored while being fouled and falling to the floor to push the Dukes to a 71-65 lead at the 1:48 mark. After a Bostain free throw, Freeman followed with a slicing layup through the heart of the lane. Broyles made it a nine-point spread, 75-66, with a layup on a touch pass by senior point guard Chris Williams.
Carter scored half of his points in the final 16 seconds by popping a pair of threes. But, a Williams free throw, that made it a three-possession game, and a layup by Barbosa nullified the threat.
Barbosa finished 11-for-15 shooting and was a major contributor to the Dukes' 54.4 percent (31-57) shooting for the game. JMU also connected on 53.8 percent (7-13) of its three-point tries. Broyles finished the night with 14 points and five rebounds. Williams added 13 points and seven assists.
The Dukes, who tied the Paladins on the boards at 36, were led by red-shirt sophomore David Cooper's seven rebounds while freshman Eddie Greene-Long snared six.