WVU Opens on the Road
November 23, 2003 09:38 PM | General
November 23, 2003
MORGANTOWN, W.Va. – For the first time since 1996, West Virginia is opening a men’s basketball season in an opposing team’s gymnasium.
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| Coach John Beilein owns a 7-3 record against James Madison. (AP photo) |
West Virginia takes on James Madison Monday night to begin the 2003-04 campaign – the first time WVU will start a season on the road since taking on No. 24-ranked Minnesota in Minneapolis. The Mountaineers dropped that game 76-61.
Mountaineer coach John Beilein is hoping to avoid a similar result Monday night in Harrisonburg, Va.
James Madison already has a leg up on West Virginia, having opened its season two nights ago at home against Furman. The Dukes managed to hold on for a 78-72 victory behind a smashing debut from freshman guard Ray Barbosa, who came off the bench to score a team-high 28 points on 11 of 15 shooting.
The Allentown, Pa., native poured in 19 of his 28 points in the first half to help the Dukes stake out a 36-28 halftime lead.
The 6-foot-2, 185-pound Barbosa was a 2,000-point scorer at William Allen High School in Allentown and was a two-time area player of the year. Barbosa wound up playing 28 minutes in the opener.
James Madison’s starting five consisted of 6-foot-7 David Cooper and 6-foot-6 Dwayne Broyles at forwards, 6-foot-7 Chris Cathlin at center, and 6-foot-3 John Naparlo and 6-foot-2 Chris Williams at guards.
Broyles scored 14 points against Furman and Williams added 13.Last year against West Virginia Broyles scored 12 points in a 70-67 loss to the Mountaineers in Morgantown.
Drew Schifino led West Virginia with 18 points, followed by 17 from Kevin Pittsnogle and 10 from Tyrone Sally.
James Madison out-rebounded West Virginia, 42-31 and held a 38-32 halftime lead over the Mountaineers. Despite being out-rebounded, WVU only committed six turnovers for the game.
West Virginia’s most recent visit to the JMU Convocation Center resulted in a 91-75 loss to the Dukes in 2001. WVU also dropped a 72-70 decision in Harrisonburg in 1984.
West Virginia holds a 5-3 advantage in the series which began in 1983 when the two teams met in the NCAA tournament. All five of West Virginia’s wins against James Madison have come in Morgantown.
Beilein has a 7-3 all-time record against James Madison.
Tipoff is set for 7 pm and MSN’s radio coverage begins at 6:30 pm.
Following Monday night’s game, West Virginia’s home opener is Saturday, Nov. 29, at 6 pm against Northeastern. Fans that bring a Temple football ticket stub to the basketball game can get a $6 discount off a ticket purchased at the gate.
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