Dukes Welcome Towson for Saturday Night Tilt

Saturday, February 15

Harrisonburg, Va.

8 p.m.

James Madison University

Towson

2/14/2020 5:31:00 PM | Men's Basketball

James Madison Dukes (9-15, 2-11 CAA) vs. Towson Tigers (15-11, 7-5 CAA)

February 15, 2020 -- 8:00 PM

Harrisonburg, Va. -- JMU Convocation Center

Game Links

Live Stats · Video: FloHoops · Radio Broadcast

QUICK HITS

James Madison will play its only game of the week on Saturday night, as the Dukes welcome Towson to the Convocation Center for the final time in an 8 p.m. matchup in Harrisonburg.
Last Saturday, sophomore Deshon Parker and junior Matt Lewis both racked up more than 20 points and James Madison out-shot a high-powered Delaware offense, but Nate Darling hit a running jumper for the Blue Hens with less than six seconds left to hand the Dukes a heartbreaking 80-78 loss that dropped JMU to 9-15 (2-11 CAA) on the season.
Heading into JMU's second matchup with the Tigers, junior Matt Lewis leads the way with 18.7 points per game, while junior Darius Banks adds 13.1 points and junior Dwight Wilson is averaging a double-double at 10.3 points and 10.3 boards.
Wilson's rebounding currently ranks third in the league as one of just three players averaging double digits, and his 52.4% clip from the field is third in the CAA, while sophomore Deshon Parker is second in the CAA in assist-turnover ratio at 1.8.
Lewis and Banks have led the way against Towson in the past, with Lewis averaging 16.5 points in six games against the Blue Hens, while Banks adds 13.8 points and 6.2 rebounds in the same contests.
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 TIGERS

Towson has won back-to-back games, including a non-conference, 71-55 win over Regent University on Wednesday evening to improve to 15-11 (7-5 CAA), putting the Tigers in fifth place in the league standings with thrree weeks to play in the regular season.
Brian Fobbs and Allen Betrand pace the Towson offense in 2019-20, averaging 15.9 points and 14.6 points per contest, respectively. The Tigers hang their hat on the defensive end, holding opponents to 66.8ppg, tied for the lowest in the league.

SERIES HISTORY

Saturday afternoon's matchup will be the 54th meeting between the two schools, dating back to the 1978-79 campaign. The Tigers represent the seventh-longest rivalry in JMU program history, just two games behind Richmond in fifth.
The Dukes won 17 of the first 19 matchups in the all-time series before things evened out between the teams and JMU will enter Saturday's matchup with a 35-18 advantage, including a lopsided 21-4 lead in 25 games in Harrisonburg.
In the meeting earlier this year, junior guard Darius Banks erupted for a career-high 27 points, but the Dukes fell just shy of a massive comeback as Towson handed JMU a 69-61 loss in Towson. Banks led the way as the Dukes tried to climb out of a 21-point second-half hole, scoring 22 of his 27 points in the second half and adding eight rebounds and four steals along the way.

PROMOTIONS

JMU FACULTY STAFF APPRECIATION – Presented by CommonWealth One Federal Credit Union, all JMU faculty and staff are eligible for two FREE tickets to this game with the option to purchase additional tickets at a discounted rate. Click here to claim your tickets.
CHOICES TICKET SPECIAL – All families attending the JMU Choices Admitted Student Open House can receive special $6 tickets.
PEP BAND ALUMNI NIGHT – All former members of the JMU Pep Band are able to come back and play in the JMU Pep Band.
GREEK ORG NIGHT – The fraternity or sorority with the highest number of attendees will receive a flat screen TV.