Dukes Aim for Season Sweep in Home Bout Against UNCW

Saturday, February 1

Harrisonburg, Va.

4 p.m.

James Madison University

UNCW

1/31/2020 8:09:00 PM | Men's Basketball

James Madison Dukes (8-13, 1-9 CAA) vs. UNCW Seahawks (7-16, 2-8 CAA)

February 1, 2020 -- 4:00 PM

Harrisonburg, Va. -- JMU Convocation Center

Game Links

QUICK HITS

James Madison will look to stop a seven-game skid on its home court on Saturday evening when the Dukes welcome UNCW to the Convocation Center for a 4 p.m. matchup set to be broadcast on MASN2 and SNY.
On Thursday evening, juniors Matt Lewis, Dwight Wilson and Darius Banks combined to score 51 of James Madison's 68 total points, but College of Charleston got 36 points from senior Grant Riller to hand the Dukes an 87-68 loss. Wilson posted his eighth double-double of the year with 17 points and 15 boards, while Lewis racked up 22 points on the evening.
Heading into JMU's second bout with the Seahawks, junior Matt Lewis leads the way with 18.6 points per game, while junior Darius Banks adds 13.8 points and junior Dwight Wilson is averaging a double-double at 10.7 points and 10.5 boards.
Wilson's rebounding currently ranks third in the league as one of just three players averaging double digits, and his 54.2% clip from the field leads the CAA, while sophomore Deshon Parker is second in the CAA in assist-turnover ratio at 1.7.
Lewis and Banks in particular have found success against the Seahawks in their five career meetings with UNCW, with Lewis averaging 18.6 points and hitting 11 of 27 threes (40.7%), while Banks averages 13.8 points on 52.4% (22-42) shooting from the field.
Heading into the season, JMU welcomed a six-member freshman class, including forward Michael Christmas, Dalton Jefferson and Julien Wooden, as well as guards Zyon Dobbs, Jayvis Harvey and Quinn Richey.

SCOUTING THE SEAHAWKS

The Seahawks had lost 12 straight at one point, but have responded with wins in two of their last three contests to improve to 7-16 (2-8 CAA) on the 2019-20 season, one game ahead of the Dukes in the CAA standings.
Sophomore guard Jaylen Sims continues to lead the UNCW offense, tallying 13.6 points per contest on 39.9% shooting from the field, while junior guard Ty Gadsden, who sat out the year's first JMU-UNCW matchup, is averaging 9.8ppg.

SERIES HISTORY

Saturday afternoon's matchup between the Dukes and Seahawks will be the 78th matchup between the two schools in men's basketball, making UNCW the fourth-longest series in JMU history, behind just William & Mary (99 games), George Mason (95) and Old Dominion (85).
The Dukes picked up the win in Wilmington earlier this season, topping UNCW for the third time in the last four games and closing their deficit in the all-time series to 36-41. JMU brings a 20-14 home record against the Seahawks into Saturday's contest in Harrisonburg.
In the meeting earlier this year, junior Matt Lewis racked up 15 points, including a crucial jumper with 1:22 to play, as the Dukes battled their way to a hard-fought 64-60 victory at Trask Coliseum. Sophomore Deshon Parker added 13 points and two steals, while junior Dwight Wilson posted what was his sixth double-double of the year at the time with 11 points and 15 rebounds.

PROMOTIONS

DUKE DOG READING DAY – Local elementary and middle school students are able to receive FREE admission for them and their families by participating in our winter reading program. Check JMUSports.com for complete information on the event.