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JMU HOSTS ULM
- The James Madison Dukes (15-2, 3-2 SBC) are preparing for their third home game in a four-game stretch as they host the University of Louisiana at Monroe (ULM) for a Sun Belt Conference matchup on Thursday.
- The game is set to tip-off at the Atlantic Union Bank Center on Thursday, January 18 at 8 p.m. EST.
- JMU currently holds a 3-2 record in conference play, securing the fifth position in the Sun Belt standings. Southern Miss and Arkansas State share the same 3-2 conference play record.
- On the other hand, ULM (4-11, 0-5 SBC) is still seeking its first conference win and currently holds the 13th spot in the conference standings.Â
LAST TIME VS. ULM
- The Dukes and Warhawks have faced each other only once in their history, with the inaugural meeting occurring last season on January 28, 2023. JMU emerged victorious with a 58-45 win at home, giving them a current 1-0 record over ULM.
- In that memorable game, three current roster players played pivotal roles in the victory. Noah Freidel contributed 9 points and 4 rebounds, Terrence Edwards Jr. scored 12 points while providing 2 assists and 3 rebounds, and Julien Wooden added 2 points and 2 rebounds.
- Returning for ULM are Savion Gallion, Devon Hancock, and Tyreke Locure as the only players with previous experience playing against JMU in the last season's matchup. The trio collectively scored 10 points, grabbed 7 rebounds, and dished out 4 assists.
- Key players Nika Metskhvarishvili and AD Diedhiou returned to ULM this season after recovering from injuries last season. Metskhvarishvili is leading the team, averaging 10.0 points and 5.9 rebounds per game. Diedhiou is averaging 4.6 rebounds per game this season.Â
WARHAWK SCOUTING
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ULM arrives in Harrisonburg on Thursday amidst an eight-game losing streak, which commenced with a narrow one-point loss to Sam Houston on the road (Dec. 12, 2023). The team continued to face adversity with three additional road losses, followed by four consecutive defeats at Fant-Ewing Coliseum over the past two weeks.
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Their current scoring margin for the season is -78. Through this challenging eight-game stretch, ULM has been outscored by a total of 92 points.
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Last week, they suffered an eight-point loss to Southern Miss on Thursday, followed by a 13-point defeat to Texas State on Saturday.
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Their season shooting percentage stands at 40.5%, ranking at the bottom of the conference and placing them in the bottom 24 nationally. During the eight-game skid, their shooting percentage has been 37.4%.
JMU AS A TEAM
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Conversely, the Dukes lead the Sun Belt Conference in shooting efficiency at an impressive 47.8% rate this season.
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The Dukes continue to maintain their position in the top 10 across Division I in scoring offense, averaging an impressive 86.8 points per game (#7).
- JMU's three-point defense is a standout feature, ranking 25th in the nation, with opponents shooting a mere 28.8% from beyond the arc. This poses a challenge for ULM, considering their recent struggles in finding success from deep.Â
- The Dukes' eight-game win streak came to an end against App State on Saturday. This upcoming game holds significant importance as they aim to bounce back and maintain a strong position in the Sun Belt standings.
GAME DAY INFO
- Tickets for the 2023-24 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.
- With the JMU women's basketball team hosting the first part of a doubleheader at 5 p.m. on Thursday, patrons may stay in the building between games. One ticket will allow entry for both games.
- Men's basketball ticket holders may come early to watch the women's basketball game
- Reserved seat ticket holders may sit in general admission when watching the opposite game
- Reserved seating sections will be cleared after the women's basketball game, then re-seated with men's basketball ticket holders
- General admission sections may stay in their seats, students do not need to clear
Don't Miss the Action:Â FollowÂ
@JMUMBasketball on Twitter for live updates. Tune in to 92.1 FM / 550 AM for radio commentary by Dave Riggert. Catch the game live on ESPN+ with Curt Dudley, David Taylor, and Corey Spector providing commentary.
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