#19 JMU Set For Major Road Test; Faces Louisiana Thursday

#19 James Madison Dukes (13-0, 1-0 SBC) @ Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns (7-6, 0-1 SBC)
January 4, 2024 - 8:00 p.m. EST
Lafayette, La. - Cajundome
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LAFAYETTE, La. – The #19 James Madison Dukes (13-0) are gearing up for a challenging conference matchup on the road against the Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns (7-6) at the Cajundome in Lafayette, Louisiana, on Thursday, January 4th, at 8:00 p.m. EST.

The Dukes aim to start 2024 with similar success and continue their impressive season.

The Ragin' Cajuns Report:

Louisiana entered the season as the defending Sun Belt Conference Champions, carrying high expectations.
Key players like Themus Fulks, Joe Charles, and Kentrell Garnett bring experience and talent to the Cajuns' roster.
Louisiana boasts a 19-game win streak at home in the Cajundome.
Junior guard Themus Fulks, the team's leading returning scorer, plays a pivotal role in leading the team on the court.
Despite a recent loss to Marshall, Joe Charles showcased his versatility with his sixth double-double of the season, contributing 11 points and 13 rebounds.
The Cajuns aim to bounce back from their loss and continue their dominance at home.

What's at Stake:

#19 James Madison seeks to extend their undefeated streak, facing the challenge of ending Louisiana's impressive 19-game home win streak at the Cajundome. JMU's streak is tied for the longest, while Louisiana's home streak is tied for the third longest. Their streak stretches from the end of the 2021-2022 season to today.
This marks the third-ever meeting between the Dukes and Ragin' Cajuns, with the series tied 1-1. Notably, all previous games were played in Harrisonburg, making this encounter unique at the Cajundome.
A difficult two-game stretch on the road for the Dukes sees them facing the two best teams of the Sun Belt Conference last season. Louisiana finished second in the regular season, and won the conference championship. Southern Miss was at the top of the regular season standings last year.
Louisiana and Southern Miss have a combined 36-1 home record since last year, which makes it a tough challenge for JMU. Louisiana is 18-0 at home since last year, while Southern Miss is 18-1.

Coaching Milestones:

Both head coaches, Mark Byington (JMU) and Bob Marlin (Louisiana), hold winning percentages over .600.
Mark Byington recently achieved his 200th win, while Bob Marlin is approaching 500 career victories (479).

Streaks:

No. 19 James Madison has previously halted impressive home win streaks, including Michigan State's 74-game streak in November and Kent State's 23-game streak.
Now, the Dukes have an opportunity to end Louisiana's 19-game home win streak at the Cajundome.

Recent Achievements for James Madison:

Perfect November (7-0) and unblemished December (6-0).
#19 spot on the AP Top 25 Men's College Basketball Poll; Eight weeks ranked since their inaugural appearance.
JMU also earned the top spot in the Mid-Major poll this week, moving up over Gonzaga and receiving all of the first place votes.
Terrence Edwards Jr. named Sun Belt Conference Player of the Week twice (Week 1 & 7).
T.J. Bickerstaff named Sun Belt Conference Player of the Week and USBWA Oscar Robertson National Player of the Week in Week 5.

Don't miss the action as the No. 19 James Madison Dukes take on the Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns at the Cajundome in Lafayette, Louisiana. Watch the game live on ESPN+, follow @JMUMBasketball on Twitter for updates, and catch radio commentary with Dave Riggert on 92.1 FM / 550 AM and the Varsity Network App.

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