Dukes Host Second-Place Marshall to Open Final Home Weekend

Wednesday, February 22

Harrisonburg, Va.

7 p.m.

James Madison University

Marshall

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Dukes Host Second-Place Marshall to Open Final Home Weekend

2/21/2023 3:35:00 PM | Men's Basketball

Game Notes

James Madison Dukes (20-9, 11-5 SBC) vs. Marshall Thundering Herd (23-6, 12-4 SBC)

February 22, 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

HerdZone.com · @HerdMBB

QUICK HITS

James Madison men's basketball looks to continue its recent success in Sun Belt Conference play, following up one of its biggest wins of the season with a Wednesday night matchup against second-place Marshall at the Atlantic Union Bank Center.
The Dukes' 74-68 Saturday night victory against Louisiana moved the Dukes into a tie for third place in the Sun Belt standings, with JMU currently holding the tiebreaker. The Dukes also clinched a top-four spot and a double-bye in the conference tournament. With a win Wednesday, the Dukes would move into second place and would also hold the head-to-head tiebreaker against Marshall.
JMU played its sixth consecutive single-digit game on Saturday, the most consecutive games in single digits since the 2017-18 season. Each of JMU's last five wins and seven of its last eight have been by nine or fewer.
The Dukes have picked up 20 wins for the first time since the 2015-16 season, which was also the last time JMU had 10 home wins.
Graduate transfer Mezie Offurum had a monster week, averaging 15.5 points, 7.0 rebounds, 3.5 assists and 2.0 steals in two home victories to earn SBC Player of the Week honors. Offurum put up an assist-to-turnover ratio of 3.5 and set a career high with 12 free throws against Old Dominion. He leads the team with 5.5 rebounds per game and is second in field goal percentage (59.9).
The Dukes are led on offense by redshirt sophomore Terrence Edwards at 12.4 points per game. Edwards has averaged 14.5 points per game in his last 11, coming off the bench in all 11 contests.
Redshirt senior Vado Morse scored 24 points to lead JMU on Saturday and has 17 games with at least 20 points in a JMU uniform.
The Dukes have made more free throws than 15 of their 16 league opponents and are 23rd in the country with 16.2 made per game.JMU enters the final week of the regular season fifth in Division I with 9.7 steals per contest.

SCOUTING THE THUNDERING HERD

Marshall has won four in a row, defeating Troy 88-78 at home on Saturday in its final home game of the regular season. Andrew Taylor and Taevion Kinsey scored 27 and 22 points, respectively while Kinsey added eight rebounds.
Kinsey averages 21.9 points per game which leads the Sun Belt and ranks ninth in the country. Taylor is second in the SBC with 20.1 and the duo is the only pair of teammates in the country averaging at least 20 points per contest each.
The Herd have the top scoring offense in the Sun Belt, cruising at 82.4 points per game overall and 80.5 in conference games.

SERIES HISTORY

The Dukes have taken the last four matchups in the series and are 2-0 overall at home.
In the first meeting this season between the two teams, JMU won 72-66, overcoming losing a 13-point lead in the second half. Edwards led JMU with 16 points on 6-of-9 shooting and also grabbed six boards.

GAMEDAY INFO

Tickets for the 2022-23 JMU Men's Basketball season are available here.
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.
WHITE OUT - The Dukes are white hot, be sure to wear white help us white out the Atlantic Union Bank Center. The first 400 STUDENTS to visit the marketing table at the Plaza Entrance will grab a free Air Duke Dog T-Shirt.
Fan Appreciation Prize - The first 1,000 fans through the gates will receive a ticket and can redeem their ticket at the back of the concourse for a special prize. Tickets will be available for fans until the end of halftime, courtesy of Virginia Lottery.
Trading Card Giveaway - fans at Saturday's game will receive the four of five JMU Men's Basketball trading card giveaways. This set will feature Julien Wooden, Hollman Smith and Dylan Hamrick