DAYTON, Ohio – After winning the program’s first NCAA tournament game in 30 years, James Madison sounds as if it’s not done.

A.J. Davis, who stepped in as a starter because its leading scorer was suspended for a half, led the way with 20 points as the Dukes beat LIU Brooklyn 68-55 on Wednesday night in the First Four.

Immediately, their thoughts turned to top-seeded Indiana (27-6), who they’ll play on the same University of Dayton Arena court Friday night.

“They’re Indiana,” defiant defensive stalwart Andre Nation said. “We know about them. We see them on the TV all the time. It’s not nothing new.”

He’s not the only Duke who was undaunted.

“We have some older guys. They’re typically pretty unafraid of any of the challenges we face,” Coach Matt Brady said.

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James Madison was without suspended starter Rayshawn Goins for the first half but built a big lead. After the Blackbirds (20-14) battled back to take a brief lead, the Dukes surged again to win going away by closing the game on a 10-2 run.

Davis opened the game with an emphatic 3 as if to say this was his time. And he didn’t let up.

“Coach said don’t do anything outside of your character, just be humble and play your game,” Davis said. “While Rayshawn was sitting out, a couple of guys came off the bench and stepped up for us.”

Charles Cooke, who hadn’t scored in three of his last four games, added 15 points and Nation added 14 for the Dukes, who were winless in the NCAA tournament since 1983 and hadn’t played in the tourney in 19 years.

Jamal Olasewere had 20 points and 10 rebounds, and C.J. Garner 16 points for the Blackbirds, who have lost in their first game in each of their six trips to the tournament, including the last three years.

Goins, JMU’s leading scorer (12.7) and rebounder (7.4), was suspended for the first half following a weekend arrest. Police in Harrisonburg, Va., said they were called to break up a party early Sunday morning and Goins was shouting obscenities at them.

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NIT

IOWA 68, INDIANA STATE 52: Devyn Marble scored 24 points, Aaron White added 11 with 13 rebounds and the Hawkeyes (22-12) cruised past the visiting Sycamores (18-15) in the opening round.

PROVIDENCE 75, CHARLOTTE 66: Vincent Council scored eight straight points to key a second-half charge that led the Friars (18-14) over the 49ers (21-12) at Providence, R.I.

The Friars (18-14) erased a seven-point second-half deficit but trailed by two when Council had his personal run.

STONY BROOK 71, MASSACHUSETTS 58: Anthony Jackson and Dave Coley scored 20 points each, and the Seawolves (25-7) beat the Minutemen (21-12) at Amherst, Mass.

The second-seeded Minutemen led 25-21 with 7:05 left in the first half, but they didn’t score again in the half. Stony Brook scored the final 17 points heading into halftime and controlled the game the rest of the way.

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SOFTBALL

UNIVERSITY OF NEW ENGLAND 4, WOOSTER 1: Allie Frazier homered on the first pitch of the game and Jessica Potter added a two-run single to cap a three-run first inning for the Nor’easters (4-3) as they downed the Fighting Scots (8-7) in the Gene Cusic Classic at Cape Coral, Fla.

Abby Lambert scattered four hits and three walks over seven innings to pick up her first win of the season.

UNE added a run in the second inning.

NORTH CENTRAL 5, UNIVERSITY OF NEW ENGLAND 1: The Cardinals (10-0) opened the scoring with back-to-back home runs in the bottom of the third inning and held off the Nor’easters (4-4) in the Gene Cusic Classic in Cape Coral, Fla.

MEN’S LACROSSE

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BOWDOIN 12, BATES 11: Dan Hanley scored the winning goal on an assist from Franklin Reis with 3:40 left to lift the Polar Bears (2-2, 1-2) over the Bobcats (3-3, 2-2) at Brunswick.

Bowdoin built an 11-8 lead early in the fourth quarter, but the Bobcats responded with three straight goals to even the score with 4:32 left in the game.

Reis finished the game with one goal and five assists, and Will Wise added three goals for the Polar Bears.

Bowdoin also got two goals apiece from Hanley, Peter Reuter and Connor O’Toole.

Bates was led by Jack Strain’s three goals.


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