James Madison University | Official Athletics Site
Friday, November 6
Lexington, Ky.
7 p.m.
James Madison University
at
#23 Kentucky
11/5/2026 8:30:00 AM | Men's Basketball
HARRISONBURG, Va. - James Madison men's basketball hits the road for the season's first away game, taking on the 23rd-ranked Kentucky Wildcats this Friday at 7 p.m. The non-conference clash is streaming live on the SEC Network. A live radio broadcast with Dave Riggert and Joe Mitchin will also be available via The Varsity Network App.
SERIES HISTORY VS THE WILDCATS
Friday's matchup at the legendary Rupp Arena marks the first-ever men's basketball game between the Dukes and the Wildcats. The last time JMU faced an SEC squad also marked the last time the Dukes faced a ranked opponent, No. 18 Arkansas, on Dec. 24, 2025. JMU fell 103-74 in that SEC road test.
ON THE AIR
Friday's game is set to be streamed on the SEC Network, marking James Madison's first nationally televised game of the season. It will also be carried on the Varsity Network App with Dave Riggert and Joe Mitchin on the call.
A RETURN TO RUPP
While the upcoming matchup marks the first-ever meeting between the two teams, it doesn't mark the first time JMU played at Rupp Arena. During the 1984-85 season, JMU traveled to Lexington, Kentucky, to face Cincinnati and East Tennessee State in a two-day tournament. JMU fell 63-56 on Dec. 21, 1984, to Cincinnati before beating East Tennessee State 56-46 the next day.
HOMECOMING HOOPS
The Dukes' first road game at Kentucky will be a welcome home for head coach Preston Spradlin. A Bluegrass State native, Spradlin got his coaching start back in 2009 as a Kentucky graduate assistant under John Calipari (2009-11) before serving as the Director of Basketball Operations from 2011-14.
SPRADLIN'S HISTORY VS THE WILDCATS
Since leaving Kentucky in 2014, Spradlin has faced the Wildcats twice. As the head coach at Morehead State, his first matchup against his former team was a closed preseason exhibition. The Eagles and Spradlin would later face the Wildcats in a regular season game, where they lost 81-45 on Nov. 25, 2020.
JMU-HIGH FOR PJ
In Monday night's season opener against Miami (Ohio), Paul Jones III dropped a JMU career-high 14 points on 57 percent shooting (4-of-7). This beat his previous JMU best of nine set at #18 Arkansas on Dec. 24, 2025.
DOUBLE DIGITS ONE GAME IN
In his first college game, Ace Meeks came up big with 11 points on a stellar 71 percent shooting (5-of-7). The guard also recorded two assists and one steal in his 17 minutes on the floor of the season opener.
EIGHT AND EIGHT FOR #12
Garrett Sundra's first game in the purple and gold saw the Notre Dame transfer score eight points and pull down a team-high eight rebounds. This ties his career-high in single game rebounds originally set against Le Moyne on Dec, 22, 2024.
FOUR DOUBLE DIGIT SCORERS
In Monday night's season opener, JMU had four players drop double digit points. Paul Jones III set a new JMU career-best of 14 points, Ace Meeks recorded 11 in his first college game, and K.J. Windham and Adrian Myers also both dropped 11 in their first game as Dukes.
SERIES HISTORY VS THE WILDCATS
Friday's matchup at the legendary Rupp Arena marks the first-ever men's basketball game between the Dukes and the Wildcats. The last time JMU faced an SEC squad also marked the last time the Dukes faced a ranked opponent, No. 18 Arkansas, on Dec. 24, 2025. JMU fell 103-74 in that SEC road test.
ON THE AIR
Friday's game is set to be streamed on the SEC Network, marking James Madison's first nationally televised game of the season. It will also be carried on the Varsity Network App with Dave Riggert and Joe Mitchin on the call.
A RETURN TO RUPP
While the upcoming matchup marks the first-ever meeting between the two teams, it doesn't mark the first time JMU played at Rupp Arena. During the 1984-85 season, JMU traveled to Lexington, Kentucky, to face Cincinnati and East Tennessee State in a two-day tournament. JMU fell 63-56 on Dec. 21, 1984, to Cincinnati before beating East Tennessee State 56-46 the next day.
HOMECOMING HOOPS
The Dukes' first road game at Kentucky will be a welcome home for head coach Preston Spradlin. A Bluegrass State native, Spradlin got his coaching start back in 2009 as a Kentucky graduate assistant under John Calipari (2009-11) before serving as the Director of Basketball Operations from 2011-14.
SPRADLIN'S HISTORY VS THE WILDCATS
Since leaving Kentucky in 2014, Spradlin has faced the Wildcats twice. As the head coach at Morehead State, his first matchup against his former team was a closed preseason exhibition. The Eagles and Spradlin would later face the Wildcats in a regular season game, where they lost 81-45 on Nov. 25, 2020.
JMU-HIGH FOR PJ
In Monday night's season opener against Miami (Ohio), Paul Jones III dropped a JMU career-high 14 points on 57 percent shooting (4-of-7). This beat his previous JMU best of nine set at #18 Arkansas on Dec. 24, 2025.
DOUBLE DIGITS ONE GAME IN
In his first college game, Ace Meeks came up big with 11 points on a stellar 71 percent shooting (5-of-7). The guard also recorded two assists and one steal in his 17 minutes on the floor of the season opener.
EIGHT AND EIGHT FOR #12
Garrett Sundra's first game in the purple and gold saw the Notre Dame transfer score eight points and pull down a team-high eight rebounds. This ties his career-high in single game rebounds originally set against Le Moyne on Dec, 22, 2024.
FOUR DOUBLE DIGIT SCORERS
In Monday night's season opener, JMU had four players drop double digit points. Paul Jones III set a new JMU career-best of 14 points, Ace Meeks recorded 11 in his first college game, and K.J. Windham and Adrian Myers also both dropped 11 in their first game as Dukes.
Players Mentioned
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