JMU Faces UNCW in Mid-Week Matchup at the Convo

Wednesday, February 4

Harrisonburg, Va.

7 p.m.

James Madison University

UNCW

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2/3/2015 11:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball

2014-15 JMU MEN'S BASKETBALL

GAME #24

13-10 (6-4 CAA)

JMU Game Notes

12-9 (7-3 CAA)

UNCW Game Notes

Game Plan

James Madison completes its three-game homestand Wednesday night when it hosts UNCW at the JMU Convocation Center. This is the first meeting between the two teams this season.
This game can be seen online at MadiZONE HD SportsNet, presented by the JMU Alumni Association. The game can also be heard on the JMU/nTelos Wireless Broadcast Network and on the local airwaves at WSVA AM 550 and 92.1 FM beginning at 3:30 p.m.
Wednesday's game is sponsored by JMU Bookstore. The first 500 students will receive a Gold Rush t-shirt.

Scouting Report

JMU enters the week 13-10 overall with a 6-3 mark in the CAA (4th place) while UNCW comes to town sporting a 12-9 record while being 7-3 in the conference (tied 2nd place). The Dukes are 9-6 at home this season while the Seahawks are 5-8 in road games this year.
This is the 67th meeting ever between the programs and through 66 games, JMU and UNCW are tied 33-33. However, the Dukes are 19-10 in games played in Harrisonburg and have beaten the Seahawks in four straight games. In the previous meeting last season, JMU held off UNCW 64-62 on Feb. 15, 2014, at the Convo.
Ron Curry knocked down a jumper with 32 seconds left and UNCW was unable to convert on either of its last-second shots and JMU was able to earn the season sweep for the second straight year. Curry finished with 13 points, a career-best eight rebounds, four assists and two steals while Andrey Semenov provided a game-high 18 points in the win.
Last time out for the Dukes, William and Mary utilized a 25-0 first-half run to cruise to an 84-65 win at JMU last Saturday. Daniel Dixon scored a career-high 25 points to lead four Tribe players in double figures. JMU was paced by Jackson Kent's career-tying 19 points after he hit a career-best six 3-pointers. Ron Curry also finished with 16 points and six assists while Winston Grays scored 12 after draining a career-best four treys. As a team, JMU made 14 3-pointers, the fourth-most under Matt Brady and most since 2011.
Comparing the teams for Wednesday's match-up, JMU scores 66.1 points per game while allowing 67.6 points to its foes. UNCW has the slight edge offensively, scoring 71.6 points per game, but allow 70.9 to the opposition. The Dukes are shooting 44.8 percent from the floor and 34.8 percent from range while holding opponents to 43.2 percent shooting and 35.3 percent from three. The Seahawks are a tad better on the shooting end, converting 45.3 percent of the time from the floor and 35 percent from deep while limiting foes to 42.9 percent and 33.7 percent.
Players to watch are JMU's Jackson Kent and UNCW's Addison Spruill.
Kent is coming off a career week which he scored 19 points (career high) in each home game. He knocked down 11 threes, five against Delaware and a career-best six versus W&M, while shooting 61.1 percent (11-18) from beyond the arc. He also averaged 4.5 rebounds and 2.0 assists per game. For the season, Kent is averaging 11.0 points, 4.0 rebounds and 2.1 assists while leading the league during conference play in 3-point shooting at 48.8 percent (21-43).
Spruill leads the Seahawks with 14.1 points per game, which ranks sixth in the CAA in scoring. He also is fourth with 6.7 rebounds and sixth with a 47.4 percent shooting clip. The senior has 17 double-figure scoring games through UNCW's first 21 games. He is averaging 16.5 points during CAA play, having five games with at least 18 points.
The Dukes will head out on the road this weekend, as it faces Towson on Saturday at 2 p.m. in a televised game on Comcast SportsNet, The Comcast Network and SNY.

Previous 10 Meetings between JMU and UNCW
2013-14: JMU 64, UNCW 62 (Feb. 15, 2014 in Harrisonburg)
2013-14: JMU 60, UNCW 55 (Jan. 4, 2014 in Wilmington)
2012-13: JMU 63, UNCW 56 (Jan. 28, 2013 in Wilmington)
2012-13: JMU 78, UNCW 50 (Jan. 9, 2013 in Harrisonburg)
2011-12: UNCW 70, JMU 59 (March 2, 2012 in Richmond) - CAA First Round
2011-12: JMU 69, UNCW 61 (Jan. 18, 2012 in Wilmington)
2010-11: JMU 63, UNCW 54 (Jan. 15, 2011 in Harrisonburg)
2009-10: UNCW 67, JMU 64 (Jan. 23, 2010 in Wilmington)
2008-09: JMU 79, UNCW 73 (Jan. 31, 2009 in Wilmington)
2008-09: JMU 79, UNCW 58 (Jan. 14, 2009 in Harrisonburg)
Series tied 33-33 (JMU leads 19-10 in Harrisonburg)