ATLANTA-Joe Dukes scored 25 points and Trey Hampton added 19 as Georgia State earned a 77-72 victory over James Madison Tuesday at the GSU Sports Arena, despite 34 points by JMU's Denzel Bowles.
Dukes, who came within one of his career high, made a fade-away three-pointer with the shot clock running down that put the Panthers (11-17, 5-11 CAA) ahead, 71-66, with two minutes to play, and then he hit three free throws in the final 31 seconds to help seal the win.
After Dukes' trey put GSU ahead by five, James Fields knocked the ball away from Bowles for a steal, but Ousman Krubally was whistled for an offensive foul on the other end. Julius Wells responded with a three-pointer to bring the Dukes within two. JMU (11-15, 4-12 CAA) then fouled Krubally intentionally, and the senior from Atlanta hit both ends of the one-and-one for a 73-69 lead with 49 seconds to play.
After Wells hit one of two free throws, Dukes made one for a 74-70 advantage with 31 seconds on the clock. When he missed his second attempt, Krubally was called for a foul on the rebound, and Bowles made both, pulling JMU within 74-72.
With a chance to make it a two-possession game, Dukes hit one of two free throws, but then he came up with a steal on the other end with 14 seconds left and hit another free throw for a 76-72 lead with 10 seconds left.
"Joe showed us great leadership tonight," said GSU head coach Rod Barnes. "He has been struggling with a back injury, and we thought about sitting him out, He insisted on playing, and he really came through for us.
"We're a tired team, coming off two really tough road losses last week, but our guys kept fighting. I'm really happy to see them get a win. We're trying to finish strong."
Bowles, a 6-10 transfer from Texas A&M who averages 20 points, went 12-for-19 from the field and 10-for-13 from the charity stripe for his second 30-point game since becoming eligible in December, and Wells added 18 points.
"He's a great offensive player," Barnes said of Bowles. "He's the most impressive low post player we've seen this year. If he gets the ball down low, you can't stop him. And he made free throws."
Although Georgia State post players Hampton and Krubally had a tough night on the defensive end, both responded with strong offensive performances. Hampton's 19 points, the second-best total of his career, came on 7-for-13 shooting. He also went 5-for-5 at the line and had seven rebounds and two blocks. Krubally reached double figures for the fourth straight game with 11 points and six rebounds, including 5-for-6 at the line. Freshman James Vincent chipped in four points, six rebounds and three blocks.
Jihad Ali was the fourth Panther in double figures with 13 points and three steals.
In a game that featured 17 ties and seven lead changes, neither team led by more than five points in the second half. James Madison led 54-51 midway through the second half when Krubally tied the game at 54-all with a three-point play. That began an 8-0 run for the Panthers, who never trailed again.
Krubally hit a layup to put GSU ahead 66-61 with 4:51 to play, but Pierre Curtis answered with a three-pointer, and then Bowles tied the game with a layup at 3:59. Bowles then blocked a shot by Krubally, but Hampton grabbed the rebound and put it in for a 68-66 lead with 3:30 to play. After Wells missed a trey that would have put the Dukes ahead, Dukes hit nailed his three-pointer for a 71-66 lead with 2:01 left.
The Panthers went 20-for-29 from the free throw line and committed just eight turnovers.
Georgia State hosts South Carolina State in the ESPN Bracketbusters events Saturday at 6 p.m. at the GSU Sports Arena.
NOTING GEORGIA STATE BASKETBALL: Georgia State had four players score in double figures for the first time this season and the first time since a 70-67 win over Delaware on Feb. 7, 2009 ... With five points tonight, Trae Goldston raised his career total to 1,012 points to tie Chris Collier (1989-91) for 15th place in GSU history ... When Goldston missed a free throw tonight, it snapped a streak of 21 straight; the GSU record is 23 straight by Nate Williams in 2003-04 ...
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