Dukes Ready for First Road Trip at Eastern Kentucky

Tuesday, November 16

Richmond, Ky.

7 p.m.

James Madison University

Eastern Kentucky

11/15/2021 7:15:00 PM | Men's Basketball

Game Notes

James Madison Dukes (2-0) at Eastern Kentucky (3-0)

November 16, 2021 -- 7 p.m.

Richmond, Ky. -- Alumni Coliseum

Game Links

Live Stats · W atch on ESPN+ · Audio Broadcast

JMU Game Notes

JMUSports.com · @JMUMBasketball · #GoDukes

EKUSports .com · @EKUHoops

QUICK HITS

After opening 2021-22 with back-to-back wins at home, James Madison will hit the road for the first time this season on Tuesday evening, traveling southwest to take on Eastern Kentucky at McBrayer Arena at 7 p.m.
The Dukes kicked off its season with a pair of victories, first over NAIA opponent Carlow and then over Old Dominion, in front of raucous Atlantic Union Bank Center crowds, which combined to total nearly 9,000 fans for the week.
JMU captured a 58-53 victory in their most recent matchup against Old Dominion, allowing just one three-pointer for the first time since Feb. 26, 2014. JMU briefly surrendered a double-digit second-half lead, but went on an 8-2 run to finish the contest.
Junior guard Jalen Hodge led the Dukes in scoring for the second straight game, putting up 16 points and shooting 4-of-8 from three-point range. Graduate students Charles Falden and Alonzo Sule each grabbed seven rebounds.
Two different Dukes were named Preseason All-CAA prior to opening the 2021-22 season, with junior guard Vado Morse taking home Second Team honors while graduate student Takal Molson was named Honorable Mention Preseason All-CAA. Morse averaged 14.4 points last year, while Molson was the 2017-18 MAAC Rookie of the Year and 2018-19 First Team All-MAAC at Canisius.
Just one season after going 9-21 with a 2-16 mark in league play, the Dukes went 13-7 in their first season under Head Coach Mark Byington, including an 8-2 record against conference opponents as teams everywhere battled through the logistical complications and difficulties of the COVID-19 pandemic.
In addition to the title, Byington was named CAA Coach of the Year, NABC District 10 Coach of the Year and a finalist for the Hugh Durham Award, presented annually to the top Division I mid-major coach in college basketball.

SCOUTING THE COLONELS

Eastern Ketucky has started the season 3-0 for the first time since 2014-15, notching early-season wins over Georgetown College (Ky.), Ohio Valley, and Milwaukee.
The Colonels were picked to finish 2nd in the ASUN this season, and Head Coach A.W. Hamilton was projected as Coach of the Year.
EKU finished 8th in the nation in scoring offense (82.0 ppg) and led the nation in steals (10.3/game) in 2020-21.

SERIES HISTORY

The two schools have met just twice in men's basketball, splitting a home-and-home series during the 2006-07 and 2007-08 seasons, with each team winning on the opposing team's home court.
In their last meeting, an 82-71 victory for JMU in Kentucky, three different Dukes notched double-doubles and JMU went 27-of-34 from the free throw line on the day to move to 4-1 on the 2007-08 season.