Live Blog: JMU vs. Morehead State

I'm going to do something different today, given this is a special occasion.

JMU released a statement yesterday that confirmed basketball coach Dean Keener's resignation, saying that he will coach the remainder of the season.

Junior forward Kyle Swanston hits the first shot of the game, a 3-pointer from the left side of the arc. He falls down after he shoots it, a common occurrence, but the referee isn't buying it.

Morehead State counters with two easy layups, and then Swanston hits his second 3-pointer, this time from the middle.

On JMU's next possession, what would you expect? Swanston hits a 3-pointer from the right side.

Morehead State misses a shot, JMU junior forward Juwann James grabs the rebound and junior guard Abdulai Jalloh hits a 3-pointer to make it a 12-4 JMU lead. MSU calls a timeout.

MSU gets nothing out of the timeout, and on JMU's next possession Swanston is looking for his shot but he's blanketed by two defenders. Madison turns it over on a three second call.

JMU freshman guard Heiden Ratner comes in for Jalloh and JMU runs the 2-2-1 three quarter court press, forcing a turnover the first time they show that pressure. JMU senior forward Terrance Carter scores a layup, and Madison sets the press again. It doesn't work this time, but JMU counters with another Swanston 3-pointer: 4-of-4 from beyond the arc so far.

JMU freshman point guard Pierre Curtis gets a steal and takes it the length for a layup, but he gets fouled and shoots free throws instead. Swanston and Curtis sub out after the free throws with 13:16 left in the half.

After JMU senior center Gabriel Chami blocks a shot with 11:48 left, there's another timeout. Freshman guard Ben Louis comes in for Ratner after the timeout, but Louis and Chami are replaced by Curtis and James with under 11 minutes remaining.

Jalloh gets fouled on a 3-pointer and hits all three free throws. After a missed MSU shot, JMU takes the ball in transition and Jalloh kicks it out to Swanston on the right wing for a catch-and-shoot 3-pointer. JMU:25 MSU:11 Swanston: 15.

James forces a pass across the pait on JMU's next possession and MSU steals it, only to throw up an airball from behind the arc. Curtis gets fouled on a baseline runner, hits it and makes the free throw.

MSU throws an errant pass out of bounds, the second or third time they've done that. Curtis gets the ball on the baseline again but can't hit.

Swanston has the ball on the right wing again, but he's covered closely. Almost immediately after he passes inside to James, he gets double-teamed on the baseline. On JMU's next possession though, Swanston gets the ball on the right wing and hits his sixth 3-pointer, passing his career high of five last Saturday against Hofstra. In that game he was 5-of-9 from behind the arc.

With the score at 35-21 JMU, Swanston picks up his dribble near the Duke paw behind the arc, but holds the trigger. JMU gets the ball back and Curtis throws a lob to Swanston, who grabs rim but can't push it through.

There's a timeout on the floor with 3:54 left and the score at 37-21 JMU, and both teams go to their huddles. MSU huddles on the left wing of the court — I don't know how many times I've seen that. Not too many.

At this point Swanston leads all scorers with 18, and MSU doesn't have anyone on the floor with more than four points. Swanston misses his first shot with 2:30 left, a 3-point attempt, to the dismay of the belligerent fans sitting in the front row behind me.

With 1:41 left, the score is 37-27 JMU. It seems like Madison should have a larger lead at this point with Swanston's hot hand and MSU's turnovers.

JMU sophomore forward Matt Parker heaves up a 3-pointer as the clock runs out before halftime, and Swanston grabs the rim as he tries to follow but the ball bounces elsewhere. 39-29 JMU.