Men's Basketball Tops James Madison, 90-80

Story Links

Dec 16, 2003

Box Score?|?Quotes |? Video Highlights

By HANK KURZ Jr.
AP Sports Writer

CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. – Devin Smith, Todd Billet and Elton Browncombined for 58 points and Virginia returned from a long layoff with an easyone Tuesday night, beating James Madison 90-80.

The Cavaliers (6-0), playing for the first time in 11 days after goingthrough exams, were sloppy early and missed several easy shots, but tookcommand before the first half ended and never were threatened.

James Madison (2-4), playing for the first time in 10 days, got acareer-high 33 points from Ray Barbosa, 23 from Dwayne Broyles and little fromanyone else. Barbosa had 23 in the second half, Broyles 20.

Billet had 20 points, Smith and Brown 19 each for the Cavaliers, and GaryForbes added 13. Billet hit four 3-pointers, Smith and Forbes two.

It was the first meeting of the teams in 20 years, an unusual circumstanceconsidering the programs are only about 60 miles apart, and it probably seemedlike a bad idea to the Dukes after about 12 minutes.

Brown scored nine of his 10 first-half points in a 21-6 run to close thehalf. The burst started shortly after James Madison pulled even at 20 and 22,and ended with the Cavaliers ahead 43-28 at the break.

The Dukes, who made 6 of 10 shots in the first seven minutes, made only 5 of22 the rest of the half and committed 12 turnovers.

In the second half, Barbosa’s two 3-pointers and layup and a basket by EddieGreene-Long were the Dukes’ only points in the first eight minutes as Virginiahit five 3-pointers and scored 24 of the first 34 points.

Billet and Gary Forbes each hit two 3-pointers in the burst, which gaveVirginia a 67-38 lead, its largest of the night.

James Madison closed to within 11 several times in the waning moments, andto witin 10 in the final minute after the outcome had been decided.