Undefeated Dukes Prepare for Eagles; Ranked #20 Again

Tuesday, December 19

Harrisonburg, Va.

7 p.m.

James Madison University

Coppin State

Tickets

12/18/2023 12:51:00 PM | Men's Basketball

Game Notes - JMU vs. Coppin State - 12/18/23

James Madison Dukes (10-0, 0-0 SBC) vs. Coppin State Eagles (1-11, 0-0 MEAC)

December 19, 2023 - 7:00 p.m.
Harrisonburg, Va. - Atlantic Union Bank Center
Game Links:
GAME NOTES
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JMUSports.com · @JMUMBasketball · #GoDukes

HARRISONBURG, Va. – The #20 James Madison Dukes (10-0) will clash with the Coppin State Eagles (1-11) at the Atlantic Union Bank Center on Tuesday, December 20, at 7 p.m.

JMU rides high on a 10-game undefeated streak, securing an impressive 88-71 victory over Hampton in their last outing. The win propels JMU to an impressive 10-0 record, firmly establishing them as one of just four unbeaten teams across the nation, and cements their position in the AP Top 25 poll for the sixth consecutive week. In the latest rankings released on Monday afternoon, the Dukes appear at #20 for a second consecutive week. They entered the rankings for the first time in program history on November 13^th, coming in at #24. Since then, they have been ranked as high as #18 (week of December 4). In the NET rankings, JMU is up to #26, jumping nine spots from last week.

Head Coach Mark Byington now has 198 career victories, and currently holds a 60-32 record (.648) in his fourth season at JMU.

Dukes Dynamics:

Coach Byington's squad showcased a balanced scoring attack last time out, with six players reaching double figures against Hampton.
Despite the challenging matchup, JMU managed to dominate the second half, displaying resilience and depth.
Xavier Brown led the Dukes, matching his career-high with 17 points.
With T.J. Bickerstaff in early foul trouble, Jaylen Carey contributed a double-double (12 points, 10 rebounds) in 19 minutes.
Bickerstaff still finished with 12 points and 6 rebounds in his limited time, meaning he has now scored in double figures in nine of the Dukes' first 10 games this season (9 points at Kent State).
Noah Freidel (13 points, 8 rebounds), and Michael Green III (16 points, 8 assists) were just two rebounds and two assists shy of a double-double, respectively.

Eagle Scouting:

Coppin State faces challenges with a 1-11 record and a recent 71-54 loss to Georgetown.
The Eagles have experimented with various starting lineups, deploying 11 different players at tipoff this season.
Justin Winston's double-double against Georgetown (18 points, 11 rebounds) was overshadowed by 18 turnovers committed by the team.
Shooting struggles persist for Coppin State. As a team, they have a field goal percentage of 36.4% and a three-point percentage of 24.6%.

Justin Winston, the MEAC Co-Player of the Week, poses a threat with his scoring prowess and all-around game. Camaren Sparrow was the MEAC Rookie of the Week for two consecutive weeks.

What's at Stake:

Against the Dukes, Coppin State sits in the middle of the MEAC (3-2). Current MEAC teams have a combined record of 24-8 vs. JMU.
James Madison aims to continue their historic undefeated run and build on their impressive national rankings.
Coppin State seeks to break their four-game losing streak and make a statement.

Don't Miss the Action: Catch the game live on ESPN+ with Steve Buckhantz and Curt Dudley, and follow @JMUMBasketball on Twitter for live updates. Radio commentary with Dave Riggert can be heard on 92.1 FM / 550 AM and the Varsity Network App. Stay tuned for an exciting game between the Dukes and the Eagles.