Men's Hoops Set to Open CAA Tournament

#1 James Madison Dukes (13-6, 8-2 CAA) vs. #8 Elon Phoenix (8-8, 4-7 CAA)

March 7, 2021 -- 2:30 p.m.

Harrisonburg, Va. -- Atlantic Union Bank Center

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After earning the league's top overall seed for the first time since the 1992-93 season, the James Madison Dukes will open their 2021 Colonial Athletic Association Tournament on Saturday afternoon against eighth-seeded Elon at 2:30 p.m.
The league's premier event will be held on the Dukes' home court, the Atlantic Union Bank Center, marking the first time since 1986 that the CAA Tournament will be held at an on-campus facility.
The Dukes enter the tournament 13-6 (8-2 CAA) on the 2020-21 season and having racked up a 10-3 record in games played on their home court.
JMU had a strong showing when the league's All-CAA awards were announced on Friday afternoon, with senior guard Matt Lewis and head coach Mark Byington taking home Player and Coach of the Year nods, while junior guard Vado Morse was named Third Team All-CAA and freshman forward Justin Amadi was named to the CAA All-Rookie Team.
While Lewis will miss the rest of the season with a knee injury, Morse has shown his ability in the stead of one of JMU's all-time greats, averaging 15.5 points per game in CAA contests, including a 25-point performance in the regular-season finale, the Dukes' first full game without Lewis.
The Dukes rank among the best in the nation at getting to the free throw line - KenPom currently ranks the Dukes seventh in the country in their ability to earn free throws.

SCOUTING THE PHOENIX

Elon kicked off its own CAA Tournament on Saturday afternoon, cruising to a 69-48 win over ninth-seeded Towson to open the event and improve to 8-8 on the 2020-21 season with the help of five straight wins.
Sophomore guard Hunter McIntosh, who led the scoring with 13 points on Saturday, continues to pace the Phoenix, averaging 15.3 points on the season on his way to Second Team All-CAA honors late this week. Freshman Darius Burford was named to the CAA All-Rookie team after averaging 8.8 points and 3.0 rebounds this season.

SERIES HISTORY

The Dukes swept the regular-season series against the Phoenix, snapping a five-game Elon win streak in the series and staking JMU a 9-7 lead across 16 contests between the two programs.
The teams played a hard-fought battle in their previous contest, with the Dukes picking up a 70-61 victory at Elon that saw JMU overcome a sluggish opening half and a 32-27 deficit at the break. Junior Vado Morse had 17 points in that matchup, including 14 in the second half when the Dukes needed a spark. Sophomore Julien Wooden pulled down nine boards in the win, a career high.

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