HARRISONBURG, Va. (Interstat) — A pair of Sun Belt men’s basketball teams looking to build momentum will meet Thursday when the James Madison Dukes host the Georgia State Panthers at the JMU Convocation Center. James Madison (12-13) enters the contest after a narrow 73-71 home victory over Toledo on Feb. 7, which snapped a two-game skid. The Dukes have been inconsistent in conference play but have shown potency at home, where they are 8-5 this season. A key to their success will be the continued scoring of guard Cliff Davis. He is averaging 17.1 points per game over his last seven contests, including an 18-point performance in the win over Toledo. Georgia State (9-16) arrives seeking to end a three-game losing streak, most recently a heartbreaking 75-74 home loss to Northern Illinois on Feb. 7. The Panthers have struggled on the road, posting a 3-9 record away from home. They will look for a spark from forward Christian Beam, who recorded a double-double with 10 points and 13 rebounds in the loss to Northern Illinois. His activity on the glass will be critical against a physical James Madison frontcourt. The matchup will be the first of a home-and-home series between the teams this month, with the rematch scheduled for Feb. 21 in Atlanta. Both squads are in the middle of the Sun Belt standings and will be jockeying for position ahead of the conference tournament. Historically, James Madison holds a 7-4 advantage in the series, including wins in three of the last five meetings. The Dukes won both matchups last season. Tip-off is scheduled for 7 p.m. EST. The game will be broadcast on ESPN+. James Madison will host Appalachian State on Saturday, while Georgia State travels to face Old Dominion.