Canisius College had six days to prepare for its BracketBuster matchup against James

Madison. Turns out it almost wasn't enough time.

The Golden Griffins led by 12 points with just over nine minutes remaining but made only

two field goals the rest of the way and needed some key defensive plays and free throws in the

final minute to escape with a 70-66 victory over James Madison in front of 1,326 at the

Koessler Center.

It was the final home game for Canisius seniors Frank Turner and Bob Bevilacqua, both of

whom came up with big plays to lead the Griffs (13-15).

Turner was able to knife his way to the basket for 15 points while tying a career-best with

13 assists.

Bevilacqua, the former walk-on from Canisius High School and transfer from RIT, started for

the first time this season and contributed nine points on 3-of-5 shooting from three-point

range. That helped offset a cold shooting night by Julius Coles, the Griffs' second-leading

scorer who was just 1 of 7 from beyond the arc and finished with 12 points.

Canisius played for the first time since a 74-57 loss at home to Metro Atlantic Athletic

Conference-leading Siena and used the time off to rest up from nagging injuries.

"Rolling into it, we took two days off," Canisius coach Tom Parrotta said. "We were really

banged up with injuries and we're still not back from them."

Things looked good with 9:38 left when the Griffs took a 60-48 lead on a left-handed scoop

shot by Turner. After that, scoring became a task. A Coles three-pointer with 5:22 left and

Bevilacqua's three at 4:31 were the Griffs' only field goals the rest of the way.

"We missed a few shots and we turned over the ball a little bit too much," Turner said.

"They weren't doing anything to pressure us so we should not have that many [turnovers]."

Said Bevilacqua: "We had four turnovers in the last four minutes or so and that's just

missed opportunities for shots."

A blocked shot by Pierre Curtis ignited a fast break and Denzel Bowles tied the game at 61

on a two-handed jam. After Coles made a free throw with 1:04 left, James Madison (11-17)

turned it over when Robert Goldsberry of the Griffs came up with a loose ball after a scramble

and called time out.

"That was anybody's ball," Parrotta said. "That was a 50-50 ball. That meant the world to

us."

Turner made one free throw for a 68-66 lead before Tomas Vazquez-Simmons blocked a shot by

Bowles. Coles made one of two free throws, giving the Dukes a chance to send the game into

overtime. Vazquez-Simmons didn't rotate quickly enough, which gave Darren White a clean look

from three but his shot was long. But Elton Frazier was called for a foul, sending Curtis to

the line but he missed both free throws.

Finally, Vazquez-Simmons put the game away with 4.8 seconds left with a free throw.

Canisius led, 20-18, with 6:06 left in the first half when Turner started a 9-2 run with a

layup. After Coles missed a jumper, Frazier followed it home with a two-handed dunk. Greg

Logins added a three and Frazier skywalked again for another slam before James Madison called

time out. It appeared the Griffs were on the verge of a blowout before James Madison went on a

9-0 run to end the half.

Julius Wells scored five points during the spurt and Curtis tied the game at 31 on a steal

and layup just before halftime. Wells led the Dukes with 18 points but was just 3 of 11 from

three-point range. White added 14 and Bowles 11 for James Madison.

Canisius is off until Friday when it plays at Loyola (Md.).