James Madison Basketball Set for First MAC-SBC Challenge

NEW ORLEANS – The Mid-American Conference (MAC) and Sun Belt Conference (SBC) have finalized the matchups for the first-ever MAC-SBC Challenge, which will see James Madison women's basketball host Toledo on Nov. 8, while the men's program will trek to Kent State for a Nov. 9 contest, as announced by the leagues on Thursday morning.

The MAC-SBC Challenge is a scheduling alliance in the sports of men's and women's basketball that will kick off during the opening week of the 2023-24 season with 12 SBC men's basketball programs traveling to compete against the 12 MAC teams and the 12 Mid-American Conference women's basketball teams visiting 12 Sun Belt programs.

This fall's matchup against the Rockets will serve as the first-ever meeting between the JMU and Toledo women's programs. UT went 29-5 (16-2 MAC) a season ago and won the league's regular season and conference tournament title on its way to an NCAA Second Round appearance as a No. 12 seed. The most recent member of the Mid-American Conference that the Dukes have faced was Eastern Michigan, which JMU defeated 78-43 in Philadelphia during the Hawk Classic on Dec. 20, 2022.

Head Coach Mark Byington and the men's basketball team will look to even the ledger with Kent State, as James Madison trails in the all-time series, 3-2. JMU pulled out a 60-51 victory over the Golden Flashes in its most recent visit to Kent, Ohio, ending KSU's 15-game home winning streak on Dec. 31, 2010. The two squads last faced off at the 2021 Naples Invitational, with Kent State coming out on top, 74-69. This past season, the Dukes shot 51.8% (29-of-56) from the field to roll past MAC opponent Buffalo, 97-62.

The second MAC-SBC Challenge matchup for each team will take place on Saturday, Feb. 10, 2024, with the matchups set based on real-time NET rankings and announced in January. The MAC women and Sun Belt men will host the February matchups.

Each MAC and Sun Belt team included in the MAC-SBC Challenge, currently scheduled to take place during the 2023-24 and 2024-25 campaigns, is guaranteed one home and one away game each season.

Scheduling assistance is provided by Ordinal Sports Group. In addition to relevant NET data, geography and frequency of past contests are considered in determining the matchups. The MAC-SBC Challenge comes at the recommendation of the Sun Belt's strategic planning committees for men's and women's basketball, as the conference looks to return to its roots and bolster its success on the hardwood.

Each MAC-SBC Challenge game will be carried on an ESPN platform.

MAC-SBC Challenge Men's Basketball Matchups
Wednesday, Nov. 8
Troy at Ohio

Thursday, Nov. 9
James Madison at Kent State

Saturday, Nov. 11
Southern Miss at Akron
Louisiana at Toledo
Old Dominion at Ball State
South Alabama at Buffalo
Arkansas State at Bowling Green
App State at Northern Illinois
Texas State at Miami (OH)
Georgia Southern at Eastern Michigan
Georgia State at Western Michigan
ULM at Central Michigan

MAC-SBC Challenge Women's Basketball Matchups
Wednesday, Nov. 8
Toledo at James Madison

Thursday, Nov. 9
Northern Illinois at Arkansas State
Central Michigan at South Alabama

Friday, Nov. 10
Western Michigan at Georgia State

Saturday, Nov. 11
Ball State at Troy
Eastern Michigan at Georgia Southern
Akron at Southern Miss
Buffalo at Old Dominion
Bowling Green at Texas State
Ohio at App State
Miami (OH) at ULM

Sunday, Nov. 12
Kent State at Louisiana

Calendar