Dukes Travel to Atlanta to Face Georgia State Saturday

James Madison Dukes (11-9, 4-4 SBC) at Georgia State Panthers (8-12, 3-5 SBC)
Jan. 25, 2025 – 4 p.m. ET
Atlanta, Ga. - GSU Convocation Center

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DUKES TRAVEL TO ATLANTA TO FACE GEORGIA STATE SATURDAY

Following a 74-60 road win at Old Dominion, James Madison men's basketball is set to take on Georgia State on Saturday, Jan. 25 at 4 p.m from the GSU Convocation Center.
The win for the Dukes over the Monarchs marked the eighth straight win for JMU over ODU in the series and its first road win of the season, improving its record to 1-6 in road games.
JMU improved to 11-9 and 4-4 in the Sun Belt with its win over ODU, its first true-road win of the season.
Georgia State dropped a home contest to Marshall on Thursday, 92-79, and sit at 7-13 and 3-5 in Sun Belt play.
Saturday's game will stream on ESPN+ with Lamont Cohen (PxP) and Lamont MacIntosh (color). Dave Riggert will call the game on WSVA 92.1 FM | 550 AM and the Varsity Network App, with coverage beginning 30 minutes before tip.

INSIDE THE MATCHUP

JMU and Georgia State have met 18 times, with each teams taking nine games. The teams played together in the CAA from 2004-13 before the Panthers joined the Sun Belt. During that span, GSU went 8-4 against JMU.
The Dukes have won four straight games against the Panthers and are 4-0 against GSU as Sun Belt foes.
The Dukes are 4-4 against Georgia State on the road, including two straight wins. JMU's last loss to GSU on the road was Jan. 5, 2013 (68-52).
Last season, JMU defeated Georgia State 83-63 on Feb. 15, 2024 and 84-78 on Feb. 28.
The teams first met Dec. 3, 1976, where JMU won 69-68.

ABOUT GEORGIA STATE

Georgia State enters this contest with a 7-13 record and 3-5 mark in Sun Belt play. The Panthers have dropped three games in a row, most recently to Marshall, 92-79, on Thursday night at the GSU Convocation Center.
The Panthers are coached by Jonas Hayes, who is in his third season at GSU. The native of Atlanta played college basketball at Western Carolina (1999-00) and Georgia (2001-04) and has been an assistant at Xavier (2018-22) and Georgia (2013-18) among other stops in his coaching career.
Georgia State has three players averaging 14 points or more: Cesare Edwards (14.7), Toneari Lane (14.5), and Zarique Nutter (14.4). Nick McMullen leads the Panthers in rebounds per game (10.1), which is second in the Sun Belt behind Southern Miss' Denijay Harris (11.3).
In Sun Belt games, Georgia State is sixth in scoring, averaging 72.6 points per game. Edwards ranks fourth in the league in scoring (17.6) in league games.

LAST TIME VS. THE PANTHERS
JMU 84, GEORGIA STATE 78 | FEB. 28, 2024 | Box Score | Recap

Terrence Edwards Jr. scored 30 points to power JMU past Georgia State, 84-78, on February 28, 2024.
The Dukes improved to 27-3 and 14-3 in the Sun Belt with the win. T.J. Bickerstaff added 14 points as him and Edwards combined for over half of JMU's scoring.
Edwards Jr. finished a perfect 10-of-10 from the free throw line, while Bickerstaff added 13 rebounds.
Five Georgia State players scored in double figures: Lucas Taylor (18), Jay'Den Turner (14), Dwon Odom (13), Toneari Lane (12), and Edward Nnamoko (11).

LAST TIME OUT
JMU 74, OLD DOMINION 60 | JAN. 22, 2025 | Box Score | Recap

Junior AJ Smith recorded a season-high 21 points as James Madison men's basketball picked up a road Sun Belt Conference win at Old Dominion, 74-60, on Wednesday night at Chartway Arena.
Smith was one of four JMU (11-9, 4-4 SBC) players to reach double figures, as Mark Freeman (16), Bryce Lindsay (15), and Eddie Ricks III (11) all scored 10 or more.
The Dukes shot a robust 54 percent (25-of-46) from the floor while holding Old Dominion (8-12, 4-4 SBC) to 32.7 percent (18-of-55) field goals and 3-of-19 from three.
Robert Davis Jr. paced Old Dominion with 23 points on 6-of-21 shooting as the Dukes held the Monarchs' leading scorer to 2-of-12 from the floor in the second half. Jaden Johnson (14) and Sean Durugordon (10) also scored in double figures for ODU.
Lindsay made his first career start, finishing 15 points on 5-of-8 shooting. He has now scored in double figures in three straight games and is averaging 12.1 points this season.
The Dukes picked up their first true road win of the season, improving to 1-6. The Dukes are now 9-1 this season when scoring more than 70 points.
The Dukes have now won eight straight games over ODU, its last loss coming in Nov. 2019.

AN EVERY DAY GUY

After spending the first two years of his career at Southern Indiana, AJ Smith has started every game for JMU in his junior season and has averaged 8.7 points and a team-leading 6.3 rebounds per game.
Smith recorded a season-high 21 points in JMU's 74-60 win at Old Dominion on Wednesday - his fifth career 20-point game and first in a JMU uniform. The junior finished 5-of-7 from the field and 9-of-10 at the free throw line.
Smith finished 2-of-4 from behind the arc and is now shooting 6-of-13 (.462) from deep in Sun Belt games to go along with 9.6 points and 5.9 rebounds per game.
He also leads the team in total rebounds (126) and has recorded 10 or more boards in three games this season - most recently against App State on Jan. 18.
In his second game in a JMU uniform - Smith recorded a 14-point, 10-rebound double-double at Norfolk State. He also has corralled 10 rebounds against George Mason and App State while scoring in double figures nine times for the Dukes.
Smith leads JMU and is third in the Sun Belt in free-throw percentage (.795). His nine free-throws made at Old Dominion on Wednesday is the most in a game by a JMU player this season.

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Players Mentioned

T.J. Bickerstaff

Terrence Edwards Jr.

Mark Freeman

Bryce Lindsay

Eddie Ricks III

AJ Smith

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Calendar

Upcoming Event: Men's Basketball at Richmond (Exh.) on October 25, 2025 at TBD

Upcoming Event: Men's Basketball at Akron on November 3, 2025 at TBD

Upcoming Event: Men's Basketball versus Washington and Lee on November 5, 2025 at 7 p.m.

Upcoming Event: Men's Basketball versus Coppin State on November 9, 2025 at 1 p.m.

Upcoming Event: Men's Basketball at Longwood on November 12, 2025 at 7 p.m.

Upcoming Event: Men's Basketball at LIU on November 15, 2025 at TBD

Upcoming Event: Men's Basketball versus Towson on November 18, 2025 at 7 p.m.

Upcoming Event: Men's Basketball versus FIU on November 24, 2025 at TBD

Upcoming Event: Men's Basketball versus Omaha on November 25, 2025 at TBD

Upcoming Event: Men's Basketball at George Mason on November 29, 2025 at TBD

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