Hunter's Double-Double Carries JSU to 61-52 Win Over SIUE

Thursday, January 9

JACKSONVILLE

7 p.m.

Jacksonville State University

8-11, 2-2OVC

SIU EDWARDSVILLE

4-12, 1-2OVC

Team	1	2	F
SIUE	29	23	52
Jacksonville State	26	35	61

1/9/2014 9:34:00 PM | Men's Basketball

Box Score

JACKSONVILLE – Junior Jamal Hunter recorded his first career double-double and tied the school blocks record to help the Jacksonville State men's basketball team pick up a 61-52 win over Southern Illinois-Edwardsville in Ohio Valley Conference action at Pete Mathews Coliseum on Thursday night.

The Macon, Miss., native finished 4-of-5 from the field for 11 points to go with 11 rebounds and a career-high seven blocks while helping JSU improve to 8-11 overall and 2-2 in OVC play. His seven blocks ties Sean Thurston (2/15/11 vs. Austin Peay) for the most in a game by a JSU player in teh program's Division I history.

onivine Stewart was a perfect 4-of-4 from behind the 3-point line to lead the Cougars (4-12, 1-2 OVC) with 17 points in the losing effort.

Senior Brian Williams finished with 15 points to go with six rebounds and five assists while helping the Gamecocks win their 14th straight game over opponents from the OVC's West Division. Junior D.J. Felder added 14 points, 10 of which came in the second half, off a 6-of-7 shooting night while grabbing five rebounds on the night.

Freshman Undra Mitchem also added nine points and a career-high five rebounds for the Gamecocks. For the game, JSU shot 23-of-52 (44.2 percent) while holding SIUE to a 19-of-52 (36.5 percent) shooting night from the field.

The Cougars started the game just 2-of-10 from the field and watched as the Gamecocks built a 17-6 lead to open the game. SIUE then used an 8-0 run to cut the lead to 17-16 with 7:23 to play in the half.

Hunter and freshman Undra Mitchem each scored baskets underneath to end the scoring drought for the Gamecocks. Following a layup and free throw from the Cougars, JSU used a 3-point shot from junior Darion Rackley and a pair of free throws from Williams to push the lead to 26-19 with 3:35 to play.

SIUE then went on a 10-0 run to close the half with a 29-26 lead. The Gamecocks missed their final seven shots of the half during the run after opening the game 11-of-20 from the floor to finish the half 11-of-27 (40.7 percent) from the floor while the Cougars shot 42.9 percent (12-of-28) from the floor.

The Cougars opened the second half with two 3-point field goals from Stewart while building a 36-29 lead. The Gamecocks then began slowly chipping away at the lead, using baskets from Hunter and Felder and a 3-point shot from Mitchem to cut the lead to 38-36 with 15:42 remaining.

Stewart then again hit a 3-point shot for SIUE to push the lead back out to 41-36. The Gamecocks then went on a 13-2 run to take a 49-43 lead behind eight straight baskets from Felder. Williams then capped the drive with a 3-point field goal off a feed from Rackley.

SIUE would manage to cut the lead to 49-47 with 4:17 remaining but Williams again answered with a three before feeding fellow senior Nick Cook underneath for a basket to push the lead back up to 54-47. The Gamecocks then managed to hit 7-of-10 free throws down the stretch to hold on for the 61-52 victory.

The Gamecocks will return home on Saturday Jan. 11th for an OVC showdown with Eastern Illinois. Tipoff is set for 4:30 p.m. and will follow the JSU women's game against the Panthers. Both games will be carried live on TV24 and on the web for free on the OVC Digital Network.