Men's Hoops Heads to Old Dominion to Open Road Trip

Thursday, February 2

Norfolk, Va.

7 p.m.

James Madison University

Old Dominion

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2/1/2023 5:04:00 PM | Men's Basketball

Game Notes

James Madison Dukes (15-8, 6-4 SBC) at Old Dominion Monarchs (13-9, 5-5 SBC)

February 2, 2023 -- 7 p.m.

Norfolk, Va. -- Chartway Arena

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

Tickets · JMU Game Notes

JMUSports.com · @JMUMBasketball · #GoDukes

ODUSports.com · @ODU_MBB

QUICK HITS

James Madison men's basketball looks to follow a pair of key home victories with one on the road, as the Dukes travel to Norfolk to take on Old Dominion on Thursday in the first of two regular season matchups between the in-state rivals.
Sitting at 6-4 in the Sun Belt Conference, JMU is tied for fourth place with App State and ULM and is two games out of first. The top four teams in the league standings will receive a double-bye to the quarterfinals in the conference tournament.
Redshirt senior Vado Morse averages 13.0 points per game to lead the Dukes. Morse, Terrence Edwards (12.3), Mezie Offurum (10.7) and Takal Molson (10.3) each average double figures. JMU is one of just two Sun Belt teams with at least four double-digit scorers on its roster heading into February (Coastal Carolina).
The Dukes' attack has been balanced, with at least four double-digit scorers in 15 of 23 games in 2022-23.
JMU has gotten plenty of points at the foul line in conference play, averaging 17.5 free throws made per game in SBC action. The Dukes have both made and attempted more free throws than all 10 of its conference foes. For the season, the Dukes have made 16.5 free throws per game, which is tops in the Sun Belt and tied for 18th in Division I. Five players have knocked down at least 40.
Redshirt sophomore Justin Amadi (.647) and Offurum (.627) are currently inside the top 10 all-time in JMU history for field goal percentage in a single season. Offurum also leads the Dukes with a .613 clip in conference games.
Defensively, the Dukes have been active on the ball all season, totaling the most total steals in the country with 242 (10.5/game). After 10 more steals against ULM, JMU has swiped at least 10 a dozen times this season, including in four SBC contests.
JMU has a +2.4 turnover margin in conference games, second-best in the Sun Belt.

SCOUTING THE MONARCHS

ODU is tied for seventh at 5-5 in conference play and is coming off of a pair of close road wins at South Alabama and Coastal Carolina.
The Monarchs are 9-3 at Chartway Arena this year, though all three home losses have come in SBC play.
Senior Tyreek Scott-Grayson leads ODU with 14.4 points per game after eight straight double-figure games to open league play.
The Monarchs have averaged 38.0 rebounds per game in SBC games, the best such mark on the glass.
The Dukes will face the reigning Sun Belt Player of the Week for the second straight week, having faced Coastal Carolina's Josh Uduje last Thursday: ODU's Mekhi Long averaged 15.0 points and 16.0 rebounds last week - including a 19-point, 19-rebound performance on Saturday at Coastal - to capture this week's award.

SERIES HISTORY

Old Dominion, the third-most common opponent in JMU's history, holds a 58-28 edge in 86 prior meetings and a 35-7 record in Norfolk. JMU has taken the last two meetings - an 80-78 road win on Nov. 20, 2019 followed by a 58-53 triumph at home last year.
In last season's win in Harrisonburg, the Dukes allowed just one three-pointer and overcame a second-half charge from the Monarchs behind 16 points from Jalen Hodge and 11 from Morse. Molson provided the game-sealing free throws with 1:33 to play.