Dukes Resume Sun Belt Play at Arkansas State

Game #15
Opponent: Arkansas State
Date: Sat., January 3
Tipoff: 3 pm (eastern)
Location: Jonesboro, Ark.
Arena: First National Bank Arena

JMU RETURNS TO CONFERENCE PLAY AT ARKANSAS STATE

James Madison men's basketball will resume Sun Belt Conference play Saturday, taking on the Arkansas State Red Wolves on Saturday, Jan. 3, in Jonesboro, Ark.
JMU enters this game with a 7-7 record, 0-2 in Sun Belt Conference games. The Dukes are playing their fourth straight road game and ninth overall of the season.
Arkansas State sits at 10-4 and 2-0 in the Sun Belt - taking road games from Texas State and Southern Miss.
Tipoff from inside First National Bank Arena is set for 3 p.m. (eastern) and will stream on ESPN+.

LAST TIME OUT

A 16-0 first-half run was enough for No. 18 Arkansas to down James Madison, 103-74, on Monday, Dec. 29 in front of a sellout crowd of 19, 200 at Bud Walton Arena.
No. 18 Arkansas (10-3) led 16-12 before a 16-0 run gave the Razorbacks more than enough to cruise to the victory, leading by as many as 33.
Bradley Douglas led JMU (7-7) with 19 points and four assists, but hot-shooting Arkansas finished 54.8 percent from the floor and drained a season-high 15 threes to cruise for the victory.
Justin McBride recorded 13 points and five boards, while Paul Jones III notched a season-best nine points. Eddie Ricks III had six rebounds, and Cliff Davis hit three 3-pointers and finished with nine points.
Meleek Thomas led the Razorbacks with a career-high 28 points, knocking down six triples and finishing 8-of-16 from the floor. Darius Acuff Jr. (17), D.J. Wagner (14), and Malique Ewin (11) also had 10 or more for Arkansas.

ON THE AIR

Saturday's game will stream on ESPN+ with Graham Doty (PxP) and CJ Pepper (Analyst).
The game can also be heard on the JMU Radio Network with Dave Riggert, with coverage beginning 30 minutes prior to tip.

SCOUTING ARKANSAS STATE

Arkansas State enters Saturday's game with a 10-4 record, including a 2-0 mark in Sun Belt play.
The Red Wolves are coached by Ryan Pannone, who is in his first season leading the program. The South Florida alum spent the previous two seasons as an assistant coach at the University of Alabama before being hired by A-State on March 30, 2025.
The Red Wolves are balanced offensively, as five players are averaging at least 10 points per game: Matt Hayman (10.8), TJ Caldwell (10.6), Jaxon Ellingsworth (10.6), Christian Harmon (10.4), and Chandler Jackson (10.3).
Arkansas State is 5-0 at home this season and have won 16 of its last 18 at home dating back to last season.
The Red Wolves make free throws at an elite rate, leading the league with a 78.8 percent clip.