Preview: James Madison at Troy, Men’s Basketball

TROY, Ala. (Interstat) — A surging Troy team will look to protect its home court and solidify its position atop the Sun Belt Conference standings when it hosts a struggling James Madison squad on Thursday, Jan. 29, 2026, at Trojan Arena.

The Trojans (15-6 overall) enter on a hot streak, having won seven of their last eight games. Their most recent victory was an 83-78 road win at Georgia Southern on Saturday, powered by a double-double of 16 points and 12 rebounds from forward Thomas Dowd. Dowd has been a consistent force, averaging a double-double over his last five contests and providing versatile defense with multiple blocks in four of his last eight outings.

Conversely, the Dukes (10-11) have lost four of their last six, though they are coming off a dominant 82-57 home win over Texas State. That performance was fueled by 18 points from guard Justin McBride, who has shown explosive scoring ability with 30- and 29-point games this month. James Madison’s success often hinges on McBride’s offensive output.

The matchup presents a stark contrast in momentum. Troy boasts one of the league’s most efficient offenses, scoring 90 or more points four times in conference play. James Madison has struggled defensively on the road, allowing an average of 81 points in its last three away losses.

A key battle will be in the frontcourt, where Troy’s Dowd will test a James Madison interior that has been inconsistent. The Dukes will need more scoring support behind McBride, potentially from guards Bradley Douglas and Cliff Davis, who combined for 31 points in the win over Texas State.

This is the only scheduled meeting between the teams this regular season. Troy will aim to continue its push for a conference title, while James Madison seeks a season-defining road upset to climb back toward .500.

Tip-off is scheduled for 8 p.m. EST. Troy’s next game is at home against Appalachian State on Saturday. James Madison travels to face Southern Mississippi on Saturday.