GAME NOTES: The James Madison Dukes aim for their third consecutive victory when they travel to Greenville to battle the East Carolina Pirates in non- conference action.

The Dukes are coming off a 51-46 win against Richmond last Sunday, while the Pirates were crushed by nationally-ranked North Carolina, 108-64, the same day.

The Dukes hold a 33-11 advantage in the all-time series between the former Colonial Athletic Association members. James Madison has won the last seven encounters. East Carolina's last victory in the series was on Jan. 7, 1998 in Harrisonburg, 90-60. James Madison has won the last eight matchups in Greenville. East Carolina's last home win in the series came on Feb. 6, 1993.

Hari Hall scored 12 points off the bench to lead the Dukes to victory against Richmond at the Convocation Center. Yohanny Dalembert netted 10 points to go with five rebounds, and Jackson Kent nearly tallied a double-double with nine points and 10 boards. JMU scored 40 points in the paint. Richmond shot just 36 percent and was outrebounded, 39-27. Jackson Kent also brought down a game- and career-high 10 rebounds.

The 6-2 start by the Dukes matches the mark they had four seasons ago when they went 21-12 overall. Kent and Andre Nation both average 12.0 points per game while Dalembert is averaging 10.9 points and 5.4 rebounds. Ron Curry paces the Dukes with 4.8 assists per contest. Junior guard Winston Grays (9.3 ppg) has started all eight games thus far for a team that is averaging on offense 66.6 ppg, and giving up the exact same amount. Kent leads the team with 16 made 3-pointers, while Dalembert is shooting 62.5 percent from the field. Sophomore forward Paulius Satkus, from Lithuania, has also started every game and is averaging 6.6 ppg.

The Pirates have lost two in a row, but are 3-1 at home this season. On Sunday, Terry Whisnant led East Carolina with 15 points and B.J. Tyson scored 13 but went only 2-of-13 from the field. The Pirates, who were 4-of-25 from 3- point range, have dropped consecutive games for the first time this season. The Pirates allowed the Tar Heels to shoot 60 percent from the floor, while ECU was at 33 percent.

The Pirates have the luxury of four players averaging double figures in scoring, led by Tyson, who is at 15.7 ppg. Sophomore forward Caleb White (14.8 ppg) and Whisnant (11.9 ppg) are also in the lineup for a team that is averaging 72.3 ppg. Marshall Guilmette (12.0 ppg) is out indefinitely after sustaining an injury in practice prior to the Virginia-Lynchburg game on Nov. 20. The Pirates are shooting 44.8 percent from the floor and have had four different players lead them in scoring in each of the last four contests. Tyson has scored more than 37 percent of his points at the free throw line this season with 53 made at the stripe.

It's imperative that the Pirates get out to a halftime lead if they are going to win this contest. ECU is undefeated when leading at halftime this season (4-0), but is winless when trailing after the first 20 minutes (0-5). The offensive balance for the Pirates should be able to carry them. On the flip side, JMU has not given up more than 79 points in a game this season, but has allowed between 71-79 points five times.

Getting to the free throw line will be key in this game for the Pirates, but the Dukes average only 14.8 fouls per game.