NEWARK, DE -- The University of Delaware broke out of a slump in a big way as Harding Nana connected for 21 points and 11 rebounds and led four scorers in double figures as the Blue Hens trounced James Madison 95-68 in a Colonial Athletic Association men’s basketball game Thursday night at the Bob Carpenter Center.

The Blue Hens (5-11, 1-6 CAA), who had lost five straight, captured their first conference win of the season and moved out of a three-way tie for last place in the league standings with James Madison and William & Mary. Delaware shot 55.2 percent from the field (32 of 58), connected on 10 of 24 three-pointers, and nailed 21 of 29 free throws to down the Dukes for the ninth time without a loss in the series. The Hens are 5-0 all-time vs. James Madison at the BCC.

Nana, an All-American candidate who was coming off a career-high 38-point effort in Saturday’s loss to Towson, hit on 7 of 10 shots from the field and finished with 21 points and 11 rebounds for his league-high 10th double double of the season. Sophomore forward Herb Courtney (right) posted his second double-double of the season with 13 points and 11 rebounds while Rulon Washington came off the bench to deliver 17 points, including four three-pointers, and Raphael Madera added 11 points. The Hens hit for 90 or more points in consecutive games for the first time since February, 2001 and the 95 points was the most scored by UD since a 110-66 win over Northeastern back on Mar. 4, 2001.

James Madison (3-12, 0-7 CAA) dropped its seventh straight game, all by at least 15 points, and fell for the 11th time in its last 12 outings. Freshman forward Juwann James hit on 7 of 11 shots from the field and finished with a team-high 16 points and Joe Posey came off the bench to add 10 points in just five minutes of action. Chris Cathlin added nine points and six rebounds and Colbey Santos led JMU with seven boards. The Dukes were hurt by 18 turnovers and shot just 38.5 percent from the field (25 of 65) and 14 of 25 from the foul line for the game.

The Blue Hens scored the first basket of the game and never trailed throughout the contest, using an early 8-0 run to break away from a four-point lead and go up 20-8 with 13:41 left in the first half. Courtney started the run with a conventional three-point play, Washington nailed a three-pointer, and Nana hit a layup to key the drive. Delaware led by at least nine points the rest of the way, taking a 44-26 lead into the break by scoring the first five points of the frame. Nana and Washington combined for 23 of the Hens’ 44 first-half points.

Delaware poured it on in the second half, coming out of the gates with a 14-4 run to open the half to increase the margin to 30 points at 60-30 with 13:24 remaining. Madera scored six of his points in the opening three minutes and Zaire Taylor (six assists) and Calvin Cannon each connected on three-pointers to lead the way. Delaware built its largest lead at 40 points at 89-49 with 3:50 left.

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