Dukes Set to Tip Off Naples Invitational Against Kent State

Monday, November 22

Naples, Fla.

12 p.m.

James Madison University

Kent State

Dukes Set to Tip Off Naples Invitational Against Kent State

11/21/2021 5:31:00 PM | Men's Basketball

James Madison Dukes (4-0) vs. Kent State (1-1) | Naples Invitational

November 22, 2021 -- 12 p.m.

Naples, Fla. -- Community School of Naples

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James Madison heads south for a week in Florida, opening their four-game trip on Monday, Nov. 22, with the opening game of the Naples Invitational, as the Dukes take on Kent State at the Community School of Naples.
The Naples Invitational brings together an eight-team field of historically strong mid-major programs - depending on the Dukes' result on Monday, they will face either Wright State or George Washington in Tuesday's semifinals.
The Dukes are 4-0 on the season and 3-0 against Division I competition for the first time since the 1999-2000 season after battling their way to a 67-64 win over George Mason in Harrisonburg on Friday night.
In the win, junior guard Vado Morse hit a go-ahead three-pointer with 29.7 seconds on the clock to make the difference after the Dukes battled through cold stretches with their defense, holding Mason to a 37.9% clip from the field on the evening, including a 10-of-29 (34.5%) opening half. In all, JMU forced 21 turnovers from the Patriots, their most since the 2019-20 season.
The Dukes have started the season with a balanced attack on offense, with six players averaging at least nine points and nine averaging at least seven, led by Morse and junior guard Jalen Hodge at 12.0 each.
Graduate transfer Alonzo Sule has been a force on the glass, grabbing at least seven rebounds in each of the first four contests, good for an average of 7.5 per game. The Dukes have also out-rebounded three of their first four opponents, with the only exception coming against Old Dominion, when JMU matched the Monarchs at 35 rebounds each.

SCOUTING THE GOLDEN FLASHES

Kent State has played just twice to this point in 2021-22, opening the season with a 73-59 loss at Xavier before cruising to an 84-38 victory over Division III Oberlin College back on Tuesday, Nov. 16.
Junior guard Sincere Carry, who transferred from Duquesne prior to this season and was named to the Preseason All-MAC Second Team, has led the Golden Flashes through the early schedule, averaging 16 points, three assists and two rebounds so far.
Fellow junior guard Malique Jacobs has added averages of 10 points and a team-high six boards in early action, while senior forward Justyn Hamilton is hitting 47.1% from the floor on his way to 10.5 points per game and five rebounds per contest.

SERIES HISTORY

The Dukes have faced Kent State just four times in program history, cleanly splitting a pair of home-and-home swings - one series coming in 1987 and 1988, with the other in 2010 and 2011.
The teams each won on their home court in the first exchange, with both victories coming by single digits, before reversing things and winning away from home in recent years. Kent State picked up a 71-51 win in Harrisonburg in the teams' last meeting on Dec. 6, 2011.