ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1997, Roanoke Times
DATE: Monday, January 27, 1997 TAG: 9701280024
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B-2 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: Associated Press
OK, so maybe James Madison isn't so bad after all.
The Dukes wrapped up an impressive week Saturday with what coach Lefty Driesell called their best basketball game of the season, an 84-66 victory over Old Dominion that moved JMU into the Colonial Athletic Association lead.
This one was over before the second half was seven minutes old.
James Madison led 50-34 at halftime, then scored the first 18 points after the break, giving them a lead that equalled the Monarchs' point total.
On the heels of a victory at CAA front-runner East Carolina - and only three weeks after he said his team played like ``a bunch of dogs'' in a loss to William and Mary - even Driesell was impressed.
``You don't usually blow out a team like Old Dominion,'' he said.
James Madison (11-5) is 5-2 in the CAA, a mark that became the league's best when East Carolina (5-3) lost 57-51 at North Carolina-Wilmington. The Monarchs (14-6, 5-3) have lost three of four since a 13-3 start.
Jeff Capel, the Monarchs' coach, benched his starters early in the second half.
``They accepted defeat with about 16 minutes left,'' Capel said.
Chatney Howard scored 18 of his 24 points in the first half for JMU.
Freddie Bryant led ODU with 15 points and former Laurel Park High School star Odell Hodge had 10.
LENGTH: Short : 34 linesby CNB