Wildcats Open NIT Season Tip-Off With 99-64 Win

Monday, November 17

Norman, Okla.

6:00 p.m.

Davidson College

James Madison

Bryant Barr scored 12 points against James Madison.

Wildcats Open NIT Season Tip-Off With 99-64 Win

11/17/2008 8:50:00 PM | Men's Basketball

By: Marc Gignac

Box Score

NORMAN, Okla. - Davidson guard Stephen Curry tallied 33 points, nine assists and four steals, and the Wildcats held James Madison to 35 percent shooting from the field in a 99-64 victory in the opening round of the Dick's Sporting Goods NIT Season Tip-Off at the Lloyd Noble Center Monday night.

The Wildcats (2-0) will face Oklahoma at 9:30 p.m. (EST) Tuesday, and the contest will be televised live on ESPN2.

Curry was one of five 'Cats scoring in double figures as Bryant Barr netted 12 points, while Steve Rossiter, Andrew Lovedale and Brendan McKillop each had 10. Lovedale added 11 rebounds for his third career double-double, and Max Paulhus Gosselin recorded nine points, eight rebounds and three steals.

Julius Wells score 21 points off the bench for the Dukes (0-1), and Juwann James posted 10 points and 11 rebounds. Kyle Swanston scored 12 on 4-of-6 from 3-point range.

The Wildcats shot 58.5 percent from the floor, and canned 10-of-25 3-pointers, but it was their defense that set the tone early. After Lovedale hit a jumper on the 'Cats' first trip down the floor, James Madison had to call a timeout 23 seconds into the game because the Dukes could not get the ball inbounds.

The play helped spark a 20-2 Davidson scoring run, capped by a pair of Lovedale free throws, to start the game. The margin grew to as many as 23 points following a Curry jumper, but Swanston hit a 3-pointer with 28 seconds left, making the margin 50-30 at the half.

Davidson kept the defensive pressure on, holding the Dukes to 35.5 percent from the field in the first half and 34.5 percent in the second frame. The Wildcats had 10 steals in the game and forced 18 turnovers.

Leading 75-53 with 7:32 to play, Davidson put together a 14-2 run to open a 34-point cushion. Curry had 11 of the 14 points with Ben Allison chipping in a conventional 3-point play.

Game Notes: It was the first Davidson victory in the 24-year history of the NIT Season Tip-Off; the Wildcats are now 1-2 in the tournament… It was Curry's 49th game with 20 or more points and his 16th with 30 or more… Curry moved into fifth on the Davidson career scoring list… It was the first time Davidson had five scorers in double figures since their 90-58 victory over North Carolina Central last season.