We’re heading into the final day of the 2024-25 Sun Belt Conference men’s basketball regular season, with still plenty to be decided in terms of seeding for the conference tournament.

James Madison is alone in first place ahead of three other teams, so the Dukes control their own destiny for the No. 1 tournament seed. South Alabama, Troy and Arkansas State are all a game back, so how their final games play out will factor heavily into who gets how many byes for the postseason (the top two seeds get a bye all the way to the Sun Belt semifinals; the top four to the quarterfinals).

Marshall is in fifth (but only one game out of the second/third/fourth logjam), and could get grab a top-four seed if things shake out the right way. Appalachian State, which lost on Tuesday, can now no longer finish higher than fifth.

Here are how things stand among the five Sun Belt men’s basketball contenders as we head into the final day of the regular season (games are Friday to give everyone an extra day to travel to Pensacola, Fla., for the tournament):

James Madison (13-4)

Remaining game: at Texas State (Friday)

Has tiebreaker on: Troy (1-0), Arkansas State (1-0)

Loses tiebreaker to: South Alabama (0-1)

Split with: Marshall (1-1)

Note: The math is pretty simple — if the Dukes beat the Bobcats, they are regular-season Sun Belt champions and the top seed for the conference tournament. Should JMU lose, however, they could drop to the 2-seed if South Alabama wins. The Dukes cannot be any lower than No. 2, which means they have locked up a bye all the way to the conference semifinals.

South Alabama (12-5)

Remaining game: home vs. Louisiana (Friday)

Has tiebreaker on: Arkansas State (2-0), James Madison (1-0), Marshall (1-0)

Loses tiebreaker to: None

Split with: Troy (1-1)

Note: South Alabama is guaranteed no worse than the No. 4 seed, but could also finish No. 1, No. 2 or No. 3 depending on how the other games go. A win over the Ragin’ Cajuns and a JMU loss to Texas State gives the Jaguars the No. 1 seed. If both win, South Alabama is No. 2 based on tiebreakers. Should South Alabama lose, things get trickier, depending on what Arkansas State and Troy do. If the Red Wolves and Trojans both win and the Jaguars lose, South Alabama is the No. 4 seed. If those teams split, the Jaguars are No. 3. If all three lose, South Alabama is No. 2.

Troy (12-5)

Remaining games: at Southern Miss (Friday)

Has tiebreaker on: Marshall (1-0)

Loses tiebreaker to: James Madison (0-1)

Split with: Arkansas State (1-1), South Alabama (1-1)

Note: The Trojans are also guaranteed a spot in the Top 4, and could rise as high as No. 2 with a win over the Golden Eagles and a South Alabama loss to Louisiana. The win over South Alabama would also give Troy the tiebreaker over Arkansas State for the 3-4 spots.

Arkansas State (12-5)

Remaining game: at Louisiana-Monroe (Friday)

Has tiebreaker on: None

Loses tiebreaker to: South Alabama (0-2), Marshall (0-1), James Madison (0-1)

Split with: Troy (1-1)

Note: The Red Wolves cannot be the No. 1 seed, but can grab No. 2 with a win over ULM and losses by South Alabama and Troy. In a four-way tie, the Red Wolves would be No. 4. With a loss and a Marshall win, they could wind up No. 5.

Marshall (11-6)

Remaining game: home vs. Appalachian State (Friday)

Has tiebreaker on: Arkansas State (1-0)

Loses tiebreaker to: Troy (0-1), South Alabama (0-1)

Split with: James Madison (1-1)

Note: Marshall cannot finish higher than fourth, and needs a win over the Mountaineers coupled with an Arkansas State loss to ULM to get there. In case of a 4-way tie for second (meaning South Alabama, Troy and Arkansas State all lose Friday), the Thundering Herd would also get the No. 4 seed.

Friday’s full schedule

(All times Central and all games on ESPN+ unless noted)

Old Dominion at Coastal Carolina, 6:30 p.m.

Arkansas State at Louisiana-Monroe, 6:30 p.m.

Georgia State at Georgia Southern, 7 p.m.

Louisiana at South Alabama, 7 p.m.

James Madison at Texas State, 7 p.m.

Troy at Southern Miss, 7:30 p.m.

Appalachian State at Marshall, 8 p.m. (ESPNU)