Goins came in early in the second half but appeared out of synch for several minutes.
But LIU Brooklyn's players aren't so sure that Goins' absence might not be different.
"It's just a blip on the radar screen, " coach Matt Brady said of Goins' troubles.
Supporting that theory, the Dukes were 1-0 this season without Goins in the starting lineup.
James Madison was without suspended starter Rayshawn Goins for the first half but built a big lead.
James Madison (21-14) was without suspended starter Rayshawn Goins for the first half but built a big lead.
Goins, JMU's leading scorer (12.7) and rebounder (7.4), was suspended for the first half following a weekend arrest.
Goins looked out of synch when he did play, but did contribute two big baskets in JMU's late run.
Leading scorer and rebounder Rayshawn Goins will have to wait 20 minutes longer.
Even the Dukes recognize that the Goins situation makes things more difficult for a team that has no NCAA experience.
Brady, who suspended Goins on Monday, said his team had frequently gone to a smaller lineup this season, sending Goins to the bench.
"It's definitely going to affect us because we play through him, " said JMU point guard Devon Moore, who has assisted on many of Goins' points this year.
Goins, a 6-foot-6 senior who averages 12.7 points and 7.4 rebounds a game, was arrested early Sunday morning, hours before James Madison (20-14) found out what team and where it was playing in the tournament.
Goins was suspended by Dukes coach Matt Brady for the first half of the Dukes' First Four game on Wednesday night against LIU Brooklyn after his arrest over the weekend on charges of disorderly conduct and obstructing justice.
Davis, who started in replace of Goins, had 20 points for JMU. 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 big dance in 19 years.
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