Gamecocks Hang On For 70-64 Win Over Tennessee State

Thursday, January 16

JACKSONVILLE

7 p.m.

Jacksonville State University

9-12, 3-3OVC

TENNESSEE STATE

2-18, 1-5OVC

Team	1	2	F
Tennessee State	22	42	64
Jacksonville State	39	31	70

1/16/2014 10:02:00 PM | Men's Basketball

Box Score

PHOTO GALLERY

JACKSONVILLE – Senior Brian Williams continued his climb up the Jacksonville State record book while helping the Gamecocks hold on for the 70-64 Ohio Valley Conference victory over Tennessee State on Thursday night at Pete Mathews Coliseum.

With the win, the Gamecocks improve to 9-12 overall and 3-3 in OVC play while the Tigers fall to 2-18 overall and 1-5 in conference play.

The senior guard finished with 14 points to push his career total to 1,164 points scored, which ranks as the third most points scored in the school's Division I history. Junior D.J. Felder was 8-of-13 from the field while leading the Gamecocks with a career-high 17 points. Fellow junior Darion Rackley came off the bench to score 15 points while finishing 9-of-10 from the free throw line.

The Tigers were led by Patrick Miller with 21 points. M.J. Rhett added a double-double of 12 points and 10 rebounds to help TSU rally from the 17-point half time deficit.

Felder helped the Gamecocks jump out to an early lead by scoring 14 first half points on a perfect 7-for-7 performance from the floor. Leading 10-7, the Gamecocks went on a 13-2 run to build a 23-9 lead with 11:17 to play in the half.

The Gamecocks managed to shoot 58 percent (14-of-24) from the floor in the opening period while building a 39-22 halftime lead. The Tigers meanwhile shot 8-of-21 (38.1 percent) from the floor while giving up five turnovers that led to 11 points for JSU.

TSU opened the second half on an 8-1 run to cut the deficit to 40-30 with 16:46 remaining. The Tigers managed to hold the Gamecocks to a 24 percent (6-of-25) shooting effort in the second half while going 12-for-27 (44.4 percent) from the floor to outscore JSU 42-31 in the final period.

After Felder's tip in with 9:30 remaining gave JSU a 47-36 lead, the Tigers managed to score five straight from the free throw line to cut the lead to 47-41. Rackley then knocked down two free throws before hitting a 3-point shot to again give the Gamecocks an 11 point lead at 52-41.

Jacquan Nobles hit a 3-point shot with 2:12 remaining to cut the lead to 59-53. The Gamecocks then managed to go 11-of-14 from the free throw line while holding off the late push by TSU to preserve the 70-64 victory.

The Gamecocks will return to action with a four-game road stretch that kicks off Saturday against Eastern Kentucky in Richmond, Ky. Tipoff is set for 6 p.m.