B-CU Falls to FIU, 74-72
MIAMI - Bethune-Cookman cut a 12-point deficit down to one and had the final shot, but Florida International held off the Wildcats 74-72 victory Monday afternoon.
The Wildcats closed to two points on a Ricky Johnson lay-up with 17 seconds remaining and had the final shot after an Alex Smith steal, but a three-pointer bounced off the rim.
Tymell Murphy scored 20 points, Malik Smith had 15 points and Jerome Frink double-doubled with 11 points and 11 rebounds as the Panthers (7-7) built a 58-46 lead on a Murphy lay-up with 10:28 remaining.
Bethune-Cookman (5-11) closed to within one point on three occasions - 67-66 with 4:08 left on a Dukes three-pointer, 69-68 on two Javoris Bryant free throws with 2:13 remaining and 71-70 on an Adrien Coleman lay-up with 1:46 to play - but the Panthers answered each time.
In the first half, Bethune-Cookman took an early 26-16 lead on a Coleman lay-up with 6:37 left, but the Panthers rallied to take a 35-32 halftime lead.
Coleman led Bethune-Cookman with 20 points, followed by Dukes with 15 and Bryant with 14.
For the complete story, visit www.bsuathletics.com.
Pirates Get Past Dukes At Home
HAMPTON, Va. - The Hampton University men's basketball team closed out the first half strong on Monday night, then carried that momentum through the second half en route to a 69-65 win over James Madison at the HU Convocation Center.
It was Hampton's first ever win over the Dukes, and all three of the Pirates' wins this season have come at home.
Deron Powers led the Pirates (3-10) with 19 points on 6-for-10 shooting, hitting three of his five 3-point attempts. He also had five assists. Ramon Mercado added 12 points off the bench, while Du'Vaughn Maxwell recorded his second straight double-double with 11 points and 10 rebounds.
The Dukes opened the game with an 8-2 run, taking that lead at the 15:44 mark after a layup from Alioune Diouf. James Madison went on to take a 19-8 lead - its largest of the night - after a jumper from Andre Nation with 11:49 left in the first half.
When Rayshawn Goins hit a free throw with 8:15 left in the first half to give the Dukes a 23-13 lead, the Pirates responded by going on a 17-4 run, taking a 30-27 lead with 38 seconds left in the half after a fast-break dunk from Maxwell.
Nation hit two free throws with 27 seconds left in the half to cut Hampton's lead to 30-29 at the break.
Goins hit a free throw with 17:47 left in the second half to tie the game at 32-32, then the Dukes again tied the game at 34-34 at the 16:38 mark after a Nation layup. But the Pirates answered with a 9-0 run, going up 43-34 at the 13:13 mark after a layup from Ke'Ron Brown.
A 7-2 Dukes run cut the lead to 45-41 with 10:53 to play, but the Pirates went on a 13-4 run of their own to take a 58-45 lead with 6:05 left after Maxwell stuffed a one-handed dunk.
James Madison then went on a 14-2 run to cut the lead to 63-61 with 2:04 remaining after a fast-break layup from Devon Moore. Mercado answered with a pair of free throws with 1:54 to play to put Hampton up 65-61.
The Dukes cut the lead to 68-65 with 21 seconds left after two free throws from Nation, and Ron Curry nearly tied the game with a trey with nine seconds to play. His shot missed, though, and once Jasper Williams hit a free throw with five seconds left, it iced the game.
Goins led the Dukes (7-8) with 16 points and 12 rebounds.
For the complete story, visit www.hamptonpirates.com.