App State Men’s Basketball Returns Home to Face James Madison on Thursday

Image Courtesy Of App State Facebook

After closing out a season-long four-game road trip last Saturday, the App State men’s basketball team (10-8, 3-3 SBC) opens a season-long four-game homestand by hosting James Madison (9-8, 2-3 SBC) on Thursday at 6:30 p.m. The game at the Holmes Center will be broadcast on ESPN+.

Home Sweet Home

App State returns to Boone for the first time since Dec. 20, ending a 24-day stretch without a home game. The Mountaineers concluded their 10-day road trip with a 52-50 win over Georgia State on Jan. 8 and a 67-62 loss to Coastal Carolina last Saturday.

The Mountaineers have won 30 of their last 36 home games since the start of the 2023-24 season, outscoring opponents by an average of 15.9 points. This season, App State has posted four double-digit home victories, including an 18-point win over Coastal Carolina to open Sun Belt play.

App State leads all Sun Belt teams with 68 conference wins since 2019, three ahead of South Alabama (65). Under Coach Dustin Kerns, the Mountaineers have posted four 10-win Sun Belt seasons, the most in a six-year span since 2006-12.

Last Time Out

App State led Coastal Carolina for 31 minutes and by as many as 13 points but fell 67-62. The Chanticleers scored 41 second-half points while shooting 64 percent from the field. Joshua Beadle scored 20 points in the final frame to lead the comeback.

App State shot a season-high 76.5 percent from the free-throw line, making 13 of 17 attempts. Alonzo Dodd, Kasen Jennings, Jalen Tot, and Michael Marcus Jr. combined for a perfect 11-11 from the stripe.

Current Form

App State has won six of its last nine games, including three by double digits. The Mountaineers lead the Sun Belt in scoring defense (66.7 points per game), extending their four-year streak atop the conference in this category. In victories, App State allows 58.9 points compared to 76.5 in losses.

Offensive rebounding has emerged as a strength, with App State ranking third in the Sun Belt (12.6 per game). The Mountaineers have grabbed at least 12 offensive rebounds in each of their last four games.

Three players average double figures: Kasen Jennings (14.2), Alonzo Dodd (12.2), and Luke Wilson (10.7). Dodd averages 15.2 points over the last nine games, while Wilson adds 13.2 points and 9.3 rebounds since Dec. 3. Jalen Tot, making his first start on Jan. 8, averages 12.75 points over his last four games.

Scouting James Madison

The Dukes have won two of their last three games, including a comeback victory over Old Dominion. JMU erased a 19-point deficit, rallying from eight down with 3:46 remaining.

Justin McBride ranks third in the Sun Belt with 17.7 points per game. He scored 29 against Old Dominion and has reached 20 points seven times this season. Bradley Douglas (13.2) and Cliff Davis (11.9) also average double figures.

Series History

App State leads the all-time series 9-3 and has won the last four meetings, including the last two in Boone. The Mountaineers have averaged 84 points in their last two home games against the Dukes.

App State hosts Old Dominion on Saturday at 1 p.m. on ESPN+.