MIAMI, Fla., Nov. 20, 2009 – Senior Tony Easley’s 12 early points helped Murray State jump out to a quick 11-point lead en route to a 71-43 men’s basketball win over James Madison on Friday afternoon at Florida International’s U.S. Century Bank Arena as part of the 2009 2K Sports Classic benefitting Coaches vs. Cancer.

MSU improved to 2-1 on the season while JMU fell to 0-2.

Easley scored 12 points in the first 7:08 of the contest as the Racers pulled out to a 19-8 lead.  He finished with 18 points, 15 in the first half, on 7-of-12 shooting from the floor and 4-of-6 at the free-throw line.  Easley’s effort included a double-double with 10 rebounds, five blocks, and three steals.

The Racers put two other players in double figures as senior Danero Thomas finished with 12 points, five boards, and three assists.  Freshman Isaiah Canaan also posted 12 points.

Sophomore forward Julius Wells (Toledo, Ohio/Libbey) led JMU with 11 points, including three three-point field goals.  Freshman guard Darren White (Danville, Va./Dan River) added nine points, including 5-of-6 shooting at the free-throw line.

After a free throw by redshirt senior forward Dazzmond Thornton (Denver, Colo./East), JMU was held without a basket for the next four minutes and 28 seconds as MSU extended its lead to 24-9.  The largest lead of the first half came with the halftime score of 36-17.

In the second half, the Racers ran the lead to 23 points at 44-21 with 16:09 remaining.  A pair of treys by Wells helped cut the lead to 15 at 47-32 with 12:15 left. 

The Dukes still trailed by 15 at 49-34 until Murray went on a 9-0 run to grab a 58-34 lead with 8:15 remaining.  The Racers led by as many as 31 en route to the 71-43 win.

After MSU’s first basket at 18:55 in the second half, the Dukes held the Racers without a field goal for a span of eight minutes and 10 seconds until a Donte Poole layup at 10:45.  However, the Racers maintained the advantage thanks to 11 free throws during that stretch.

Murray State held the advantage in field-goal percentage at 37.9% to 28.1 for the Dukes.  JMU made just three of its 23 three-point attempts (13%).  The Racers also held a 53-32 lead in rebounding.

JMU will be off on Saturday before then facing host Florida International on Sunday at 6 p.m.  The Dukes also square off with North Carolina Central on Monday afternoon at 4 p.m.

NOTES: JMU senior guard Pierre Curtis (Denver, Colo./East) had five points and three steals for the Dukes... Curtis moved into a tie for ninth in career games started at JMU with 94, matching Linton Townes (1978-82)... Curtis also passed Dan Ruland (1979-83) into 14^th in career minutes with 3,088... sophomore forward Anrey Semenov (St. Petersburg, Russia/Blue Ridge School) had two points before an injury while diving for a loose ball with 4:19 left in the first half.  He did not return to the contest.