Men's Basketball Set to Face App State in Nationally-Televised Bout

Saturday, January 7

Harrisonburg, Va.

8 p.m.

James Madison University

App State

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Men's Basketball Set to Face App State in Nationally-Televised Bout

1/6/2023 6:53:00 PM | Men's Basketball

Game Notes

James Madison Dukes (11-5, 2-1 SBC) vs. App State Mountaineers (8-8, 1-2 SBC)

January 7, 2023 -- 8 p.m.

Harrisonburg, Va.. -- Atlantic Union Bank Center

Game Links
Live Stats · TV: ESPNU · Audio Broadcast

Tickets · JMU Game Notes

JMUSports.com · @JMUMBasketball · #GoDukes

AppStateSports.com · @AppStateMBB

QUICK HITS

James Madison men's basketball will play a nationally-televised Sun Belt Conference tilt against App State on Saturday at the Atlantic Union Bank Center. Tip is set for 8 p.m. ET and the game will be televised on ESPNU.
The Dukes fell in a heartbreaker to Texas State on Thursday, dropping a 63-62 decision after Texas State made one of two free throws with 3.9 seconds to play.
Graduate student Mezie Offurum led JMU with 19 points on 7-for-9 shooting Thursday evening. Both his 19 points and seven field goals marked Offurum's highs in a JMU uniform, and his point totals were his most since Jan. 21, 2022 with Mount St. Mary's.
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 five has been by double-digits (16 at then-#1 North Carolina).
In their first 16 games, the Dukes have shot 50% or better from the field nine times, already marking the most such performances since the 2016-17 season. Three players sit at .600 or better with at least 40 attempts apiece: Justin Amadi (.694), Mezie Offurum (.654), and Xavier Brown (.614). Both Amadi and Offurum would rank inside the top five in JMU single-season history.
JMU still ranks tied for first in the nation with Southern Utah in scoring offense at 88.0 points per game, but has only averaged 65.7 in its three conference games.
Graduate student Alonzo Sule has been key inside for the Dukes, leading the team with 77 rebounds and 13 blocks. After six more rebounds against Texas State, he has grabbed at least five in JMU's last seven games.
The Dukes have out-rebounded opponents in 12 of 16 games this year, sitting at the top of the Sun Belt with a 7.4 rebounding margin.
JMU has also made more free throws than its opposition 12 times, totaling 71 more makes and 85 more attempts in 2022-23.

SCOUTING THE MOUNTAINEERS

App State evened its record and won its first conference game Thursday night against Coastal Carolina off of a buzzer-beating tip-in by junior C.J. Huntley. The Mountaineers sit at 8-8 overall and 2-4 in true road games.
Graduate student Tyree Boykin is averaging 11.8 points per game to lead App State, including 16.0 per game in league play.
The Mountaineers average 4.6 blocks per game, good for second in the SBC and 50th overall in the country.

SERIES HISTORY

App State holds a 4-2 edge in six previous meetings, though JMU has won two of the three matchups played in Harrisonburg.
In the team's last matchup on Nov. 22, 2017, the Dukes pulled out a thrilling 105-99 double overtime victory, as the duo of Stuckey Mosley and Matt Lewis combined for 58 points. This is the most recent of just five 2OT wins in JMU men's basketball history.

GAMEDAY INFO

Tickets for the 2022-23 JMU Men's Basketball season are available here.
Fans can get special discounted general admission tickets in the lower bowl as part of the Dukes' 'Pack The House' promotion.
The first of five sets of JMU Men's Basketball trading cards will be available as supplies last to all fans.
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.