JMU Week 11 Basketball Preview
After being voted the preseason favorite for the Sun Belt, the James Madison Dukes have had an underwhelming season with a 9-8 record. James Madison is 2-3 against Sun Belt competition this year, but will have an opportunity to improve on that against teams ahead of them in the standings. This week, they play the Appalachian State Mountaineers on Thursday and the Marshall Thundering Herd on Saturday.
James Madison vs Appalachian State
App State and James Madison will meet for the first time this season, with both teams very close in the standings. App State currently sits at 10-8 on the season and 3-3 against the Sun Belt conference.
On the season, App State has been led by its two guards, Kasen Jennings and Alonzo Dodd. Jennings is currently the leading scorer, averaging 14.2 points per game. Dodd is second in scoring with 12.3 points per game on 49.1% shooting from the field. Jennings has struggled shooting from the field in the last three games, shooting 11 for 44 from the field and 3 for 17 from 3 during this span.
App State is coming off a loss on Saturday to Coastal Carolina, 67-62. Dodd led App State in scoring for the game with 21 points. Coastal Carolina guard Joshua Beadle led all scorers with 25 points and shot 9 for 17.
James Madison is led by forward Justin McBride, who is third in the Sun Belt in scoring with an average of 17.7 points per game. McBride does his scoring efficiently, shooting 51.5% from the field and 41.3% from deep.
James Madison is back after a furious comeback victory over Old Dominion after trailing 44-27 at the half. McBride led the way with 29 points, and also got help from Gabe Newhof, who scored 17 points, including the game-winning dunk with two seconds left.
Tipoff: Thursday, Jan 15 at 6:30 p.m. ET
TV: ESPN+
Radio: JMU Network and App State Sports Network
James Madison vs Marshall
James Marshall and Marshall State are playing for the second time this season, with the first matchup coming on January 7 in a game that Marshall defeated James Madison by a score of 66-64. Marshall led the game comfortably for most of the game, but James Madison made a late run to make it an interesting finish.
JMU made their comeback attempt through stifling defense, holding Marshall to zero field goals over the last nearly seven minutes. Overall, Marshall shot only 38.3% from the field, one of their lowest percentages on the season.
Marshall was led by Noah Otshudi, who scored 16 points, Jalen Speer, who scored 15 despite shooting 4 for 20, and Wyatt Fricks, who scored 11.
McBride led James Madison in scoring with 14, and Eddie Ricks III scored 12 with four made 3 pointers.
Tipoff: Saturday, Jan 17 at 4:00 p.m. ET
TV: ESPN+
Radio: WMUL-FM 88.1 (Marshall) and JMU Network
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