HARRISONBURG, Va. (Interstat) — A pair of Sun Belt men’s basketball teams trending in opposite directions will meet Saturday when the Texas State Bobcats visit the James Madison Dukes at the JMU Convocation Center.

Texas State (11-9) enters on a two-game winning streak after a 74-67 home victory over Southern Mississippi last Saturday. The Bobcats have shown resilience, winning three of their last five conference contests.

James Madison (9-10), meanwhile, looks to halt a two-game skid following a 77-72 road loss at Marshall. The Dukes have struggled for consistency in league play, dropping four of their last six.

A key matchup will feature two of the conference’s top guards. Texas State is led by Kaden Gumbs, who is coming off a strong week. He scored 18 points in each of the Bobcats’ recent wins over Southern Miss and Louisiana-Lafayette, logging 38 and 40 minutes, respectively. His playmaking was on full display in a Jan. 3 win at Louisiana-Monroe, where he posted 12 points, six rebounds and seven assists.

James Madison will counter with Cliff Davis, who has been a bright spot during the team’s recent struggles. Davis poured in 20 points in the loss at Marshall and had 24 in a Jan. 3 road win at Arkansas State. His scoring punch will be vital for a Dukes offense that has been held under 70 points in three of its last four outings.

The Bobcats have found success with balanced contributions. In the win over Southern Miss, DJ Hall added 17 points and Franck Emmou chipped in 13. James Madison will need more from its supporting cast around Davis, as evidenced by Bradley Douglas’s 15-point effort in the same game.

Historically, this series has been tightly contested. Saturday’s game represents a critical juncture for both teams’ mid-season aspirations. Texas State aims to solidify a winning conference record, while James Madison seeks to climb back to .500 and gain momentum before a challenging two-game road trip next week.

Tip-off is set for Saturday, Jan. 24, 2026, in Harrisonburg.