Early Run Too Much For Gamecocks in 56-48 Loss To EIU

Saturday, January 11

JACKSONVILLE

4:30 p.m.

Jacksonville State University

8-12, 2-3OVC

EASTERN ILLINOIS

5-11, 2-3OVC

Team	1	2	F
Eastern Illinois	29	27	56
Jacksonville State	18	30	48

1/11/2014 7:04:00 PM | Men's Basketball

Box Score

JACKSONVILLE – Eastern Illinois used an early run and managed to hold on for a 56-48 win over the Jacksonville State men's basketball team at Pete Mathews Coliseum on Saturday night.

The Gamecocks (8-12, 2-3 Ohio Valley Conference) struggled from the field for most of the game, shooting just 16-of-48 (33 percent) and were just 4-of-25 (4-of-25) from three. The Panthers (5-11, 2-3 OVC) meanwhile were 18-of-36 (50 percent) from the field in the win.

Junior Teraes Clemmons led JSU with 12 points, all in the second half. Senior Brian Williams added nine points to go with three steals while junior Darion Rackley added nine points and four rebounds. Juniors D.J. Felder and Avery Moore each added eight points for the Gamecocks.

Chris Olivier led the Panthers with 15 points on a 6-of-8 performance from the field. Alex Austin led EIU with six rebounds as the Panthers also managed to outrebound the Gamecocks 35-25 on the night.

The Gamecocks got off to a slow start, missing their first five shots from the field while the Panthers raced out to an 8-0 lead. Junior Avery Moore then put the Gamecocks on the board with a 3-point shot from the corner with 14:40 to play in the half.

Following a free throw from EIU, Moore was again left open in the corner for three to spark a 9-0 to give the Gamecocks a 12-9 lead with 11:38 to play in the half. Brian Williams gave JSU some momentum when he connected with Rackley for a dunk off an inbounds play. D.J. Felder then gave JSU the lead at 10-9 off a layup after a steal from Williams. Moore then took a ball that was deflected by Williams in for a layup to cap the run and give JSU a 12-9 lead.

The Panthers then responded with a 9-1 run to take an 18-13 lead. Mitchem then ended JSU's scoreless drought with a running jumper in the lane before EIU managed to close the half on a 9-3 run to take a 29-18 halftime lead.

JSU closed the half making just 2-of-10 shots from the field and missed seven straight shots from behind the 3-point line after starting the game 2-of-3 from three. The Gamecocks finish the half 2-of-10 (20 percent) from three while shooting just 32 percent (6-of-19) from the field. The Panthers meanwhile shot 56 percent (9-of-16) from the floor.

The Gamecocks continued to struggle from the field in the second half, missing their first four shots while the Panthers built an 18 point lead at 36-18 with 16:43 to play. Clemmons then entered the game for the first time and scored four straight points to spark a 16-2 run that cut the lead to 38-34 with 8:36 to play.

After Williams converted a 3-point play, Clemmons hit another jumper before Felder added four points off a layup and two free throws. Clemmons then hit a 3-point shot to cap the run and snap a streak of 13 straight missed 3-point shots by the Gamecocks.

EIU then used a 7-2 run to push the lead out to 47-36. Trailing 51-40, Rackley managed to hit a three and added three straight points from the free throw line before a tip-in by Felder cut the lead to 51-48 with 34 seconds remaining.

The Gamecocks then missed three shots from three to close the game while the Panthers hit five straight free throws to close the game and hold on for the 56-48 victory.

The Gamecocks will cap their current three-game home stand with Tennessee State coming to The Pete. Tipoff is set for 7 p.m.