The James Madison University (JMU) Dukes men’s basketball team continues its 2025-26 campaign this Thursday, February 12, 2026, as they prepare for a critical Sun Belt Conference matchup against Georgia State. Following a historic 32-4 season in 2023-24 and a period of transition, the Dukes are fighting to maintain their standing in a competitive conference landscape.
Game Preview: James Madison vs. Georgia State
The Dukes enter tonight’s contest as favorites, with oddsmakers placing James Madison at -275 to win and a spread of -5.5. The matchup, hosted at the Atlantic Union Bank Center, is the 22nd meeting between the two programs. While JMU has historically struggled against the Panthers—holding a 3-10 record in recent years—they currently boast a strong 8-3 record at home this season.
Georgia State arrives in Harrisonburg on a four-game losing streak, looking to play spoiler. However, the Dukes have shown resilience in close games, most recently securing a narrow 73-71 victory over the Toledo Rockets.
2025-26 Season Performance and Statistics
Under the leadership of Coach Preston Spradlin, the Dukes have navigated a season of highs and lows. Statistically, the team is averaging 73.8 points per game while allowing 75.1 points to opponents. Key areas for improvement as the season heads toward the Sun Belt Tournament include:
- Rebounding: Averaging 36.5 per game (Tied-160th nationally).
- Ball Movement: Averaging 13.2 assists per game.
- Home Dominance: Maintaining an 8-3 record in Harrisonburg.
Recent conference play has seen the Dukes secure dominant wins, such as an 82-57 victory over Texas State and a 73-64 road win at Troy, though they recently stumbled in a 73-65 loss to Southern Miss.
A Legacy of Success
The James Madison basketball program has seen a significant resurgence over the last three seasons. The 2023-24 season remains the gold standard for the program, where the Dukes finished with the best record in school history and earned an NCAA Tournament berth. Historically, the program has produced legendary scorers like Steve Stielper (2,126 career points) and Sherman Dillard (2,065 points).
Since joining the Sun Belt, the Dukes have established themselves as a perennial threat, moving away from their long-standing history in the CAA and ECAC. With nine conference championships in their 50-season history (since 1976-77), the current squad looks to add more silverware to the trophy case this March.
Looking Ahead
Following tonight’s game against Georgia State, the Dukes will hit the road for a rematch against the Panthers in Atlanta on February 21, 2026. As the regular season winds down, every conference game carries significant weight for seeding in the Sun Belt Tournament, where JMU hopes to recapture the “March Madness” magic that captivated fans two years ago.
Tip-off for tonight’s game is scheduled for 7:00 PM ET. Fans can follow live updates and highlights on ESPN and the official JMU Sports website.