Dukes Open Home Weekend Against Texas State

Thursday, January 5

Harrisonburg, Va.

7 p.m.

James Madison University

Texas State

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1/4/2023 5:12:00 PM | Men's Basketball

Game Notes

James Madison Dukes (11-4, 2-0 SBC) vs. Texas State Bobcats (7-8, 0-2 SBC)

January 5, 2023 -- 7 p.m.

Harrisonburg, Va.. -- Atlantic Union Bank Center

Game Links
Live Stats · Video: ESPN+ · Audio Broadcast

Tickets · JMU Game Notes

JMUSports.com · @JMUMBasketball · #GoDukes

TxSt.com · @TXStateMBB

QUICK HITS

James Madison men's hoops will begin 2023 at the Atlantic Union Bank Center, as the Dukes will play their first-ever home conference game in the Sun Belt against Texas State Thursday evening.
The Dukes' first conference slate in the Sun Belt has started successfully, with JMU picking up a key 72-66 win at Marshall last time out to improve to 2-0. The Dukes carried a double-digit lead into halftime and regained that edge with a 15-3 second half run.
The win improved JMU in the rankings to 43rd in the NET and 71st in Kenpom. JMU is the top Sun Belt school in KenPom and in second place in the NET, just one spot behind Southern Miss.
Redshirt junior Terrence Edwards led JMU in scoring with 16 points on 6-of-9 shooting and in rebounding with six boards against Marshall. Saturday was the fifth time this season that Edwards has made six or more field goals and also grabbed at least six rebounds.
In their eight wins over Division I opponents, the Dukes have won by an average of 25.4 points, with margins of 48, 35, 26, 19, 17, 36, 16 and six points. In contrast, just one defeat of JMU's four has been by double-digits (16 at then-#1 North Carolina).
In their first 15 games, the Dukes have shot 50% or better from the field nine times, already marking the most such performances since the 2016-17 season. Four players have .600 or better marks with at least 40 field goal attempts: Justin Amadi (.694), Mezie Offurum (.639), Xavier Brown (.628) and Terrence Edwards (.606).
JMU has scored 100 points or more six times this season, the first JMU squad to do so since the school's transition to Division I.
Heading into 2023, the Dukes remain one of the top offenses in the country, leading Division I in scoring offense (89.7) and scoring margin (24.4). JMU is also tied for 11th in field goal percentage at exactly 50%.
Graduate student Alonzo Sule leads JMU in rebounds and blocks, with 72 and 13 on the season. The former Texas State Bobcat has grabbed at least five rebounds in each of his last six games.

SCOUTING THE BOBCATS

Texas State started out conference play with a pair of close home losses, dropping a 57-53 bout with ULM to begin league play followed by a 55-52 loss to Troy on Saturday.
Fifth year Mason Harrell averages 17.9 points per game and sees the floor the most, playing nearly 34 minutes per game.
In seven games this year, graduate student Nighael Ceaser has pulled down 9.3 rebounds per game, good for third-most in the SBC.
Texas State ranks last in scoring offense at 65.7 points per game, while ranking ninth in scoring defense, allowing 65.5.

SERIES HISTORY

This will be the first-ever men's basketball matchup between the two schools.

GAMEDAY INFO

Tickets for the 2022-23 JMU Men's Basketball season are available here.
All JMU Faculty and Staff members may receive two (2) free tickets to Thursday's game by visiting this link and entering your "jmu.edu" email address. Tickets may also be claimed on game day at the ticket office window with a valid Faculty/Staff JACard.
Fans can arrive early to receive a free JMU Men's Basketball Sun Belt schedule koozie.
Parking is available in the Ballard Parking Deck next door to the Atlantic Union Bank Center - parking pass holders should enter through the North Entrance of the Ballard Parking Deck, while the South Entrance will remain open for general parking.