Box Score

JACKSONVILLE – The Jacksonville State men's basketball team used a dominant effort on the glass and controlled the tempo against Eastern Illinois on Thursday night to cruise to a 63-45 win in Ohio Valley Conference action at Pete Mathews Coliseum.

Four Gamecocks (8-14, 3-6 OVC) scored in double figures and sophomore Nick Cook grabbed his second-career double-double to grab their second-straight win. A 12-0 run that started midway through the first half put JSU in front of the Panthers (9-10, 2-5 OVC) for good and set the tone for a win that tied for JSU's most lopsided league victory since the 2005-06 season.

Junior Dion Waiters pulled in a career-high 12 boards to go along with Cook's 10, helping a JSU team that had been ourtrebounded in its last six games by an average of 7.3 boards to an impressive 42-28 advantage on the glass. No other Gamecocks pulled in more than four boards but all nine that played grabbed at least one, with eight of the nine recording at least one of the team's 18 offensive rebounds. JSU used those offensive boards, which were more than EIU's defensive rebounds, to grab 19 second-chance points.

Sophomore Brian Williams scored nine points in each half to lead all players with 18 points. The Lawrenceville, Ga., native was 7-for-14 from the floor and tied his career high with four 3-pointers made on eight attempts from behind the arc. Cook's 12 points went alongside a career-high three assists, while also picking up two blocks.

Freshman Darion Rackley scored 11 and dished four assists off of the bench, while junior Tarvin Gaines pitched in 10 points despite being limited to 19 minutes because of foul trouble.

The Panthers got 14 points and 11 rebounds from Alfonzo McKinnie, while leading scorer Jeremy Granger and third-leading scorer Joey Miller combined to go 3-for-19 from the floor. EIU did get 13 points from the free throw line, thanks to 18 attempts that were twice the amount the Gamecocks shot.

The Panthers' lone moment came early, when a 7-2 run gave them their largest lead of the night with over 17 minutes to play in the first half. The Gamecocks answered with nine in a row to claim an 11-7 lead, and, after six-straight by the Panthers gave them their second lead of the night, JSU used its big run to claim it for good.

The Gamecocks outscored the Panthers 21-9 over the final 10 minutes to claim a 32-22 lead at the intermission and never allowed EIU to get within six before erupting to put the game away in the second half.

JSU continues a three-game homestand that stretches just five days on Saturday, when the Gamecocks welcome the OVC's newest member in Southern Illinois-Edwardsville. Tipoff is scheduled for 4:30 p.m. CT and will follow the Gamecock women's game vs. EIU at 2 p.m.