LEXINGTON, KY. (JMU Athletics) – James Madison men’s basketball battled with #23 Kentucky in the season’s first road test, but an explosive second half by the hosts resulted in the Dukes falling 89-80 on Friday night.

Featuring 18 lead changes and five ties, the Friday night clash between JMU (0-2, 0-0 SBC) and #23 Kentucky (2-0, 0-0 SEC) stayed back-and-forth until a second half UK run allowed the hosts to create a late double-digit lead. JMU fought until the very end but were unable to dig themselves out of the deficit.

JMU was led by Brandon Lee with a career-high 26 points on 50 percent shooting (7-of-14). Zoom Diallo and Malachi Moreno led the Wildcats with 16 points each.

As a team, James Madison shot 40 percent from the field (27-of-68), 33 percent from three (15-of-45), and 73 percent from the line (11-of-15). Kentucky finished the night shooting 51 percent from the field (32-of-63), 36 percent from three (10-of-28), and 79 percent at the line (15-of-19). UK won the battle at the glass, 40-36. 40 of the Wildcat points came from the paint, while JMU recorded 20.

The Dukes stay on the road to take on former CAA foe, the Delaware Fightin’ Blue Hens, on Wednesday, Nov. 11, at 7 p.m.

How it Happened
First Half: James Madison 39, Kentucky 39
-James Madison’s first road game of the season saw the teams trade leads early on. By the first media break, Kentucky grabbed a 10-8 advantage over the Dukes, marking the sixth time the lead changed hands.
-Despite the Dukes going on more than a three-minute cold spell, success from the three-point line allowed JMU to dig themselves out of the eight-point deficit and lock the game at 18-18 with under 11 minutes to go in the half.
-Even with Kentucky hitting back-to-back threes out of the media break, James Madison continued to stay in the fight.
-The Dukes ended the half with a three by K.J. Windham, resulting in JMU and Kentucky heading into the break tied, 39-39.

Second Half: Kentucky 50, James Madison 41
– With Garrett Sundra and Lee continuing to push with double digit points each, the Dukes stayed on the Wildcats’ tails.
-Finding themselves down 50-48 at the first media timeout, JMU capitalized on threes from Preston Fowler and Paul Jones III to build a 56-54 lead with under 14 minutes left in the game.
-Following a timeout by Kentucky, the Wildcats knocked down three consecutive threes and a turnaround jumper, taking a 65-56 advantage over JMU.
-James Madison battled to the very end but could not overcome the double-digit deficit, resulting in a 89-80 loss for the Dukes.

Game Notes
-Following tonight’s loss, JMU is now 0-2 overall, with a 0-1 record on the road.
-Built by 10 first half points, Sundra finished with a career-high 15 points fueled by a career-best four three-pointers. Sundra finished the night shooting a stellar 71 percent from the field (5-of-7).
-Sundra also tallied a personal best three assists.
-With tonight marking the first-ever matchup between Kentucky and JMU, the Dukes now trail the all-time 1-0.

— JMU Athletics —