JACKSONVILLE — It was a game of runs that propelled the Jacksonville State men's basketball team to its second exhibition win of the season.
 
Runs of 14-2 and 13-5 helped fuel the Gamecocks to a 77-53 win over the Columbus State Cougars Monday night inside Pete Mathews Coliseum.
 
It was the four seniors who did most of the damage for Jacksonville State. Jamal Hunter finished with 15 points and nine rebounds. Darion Rackley added a game-high 16 points, eight of which came during the 13-5 second half run. Fellow seniors D.J. Felder and Avery Moore added six and eight points respectively.
 
Head coach James Green and the Gamecock fans were treated to another impressive performance from Birmingham, Ala., native Jeremy Watson. The redshirt junior came off the bench and finished with 12 points and eight boards.
 
The Gamecocks got 34 points off of the bench. Malcolm Drumwright finished with seven points and six rebounds off the bench, six rebounds, and a game-high four of the team's 18 assists.
 
Jacksonville State pulled down twice as many rebounds as Columbus State (45-29) while turning the 17 Cougar turnovers into 19 points on the other end. The large amount of rebounds helped the Gamecocks in the second chance point category, where they finished with 22.
 
The Gamecock defense held Columbus State to without a point for the first 4:50 of game and finished the game by allowing the Cougars to only shoot 37.2 percent from the field and 27.3 percent from behind the arc.
 
In addition to the point guard play and shooting defense, Jacksonville State sank 21-of-26 free throws, 14-of-18 in the second half. The Gamecocks outscored the Cougars 39-24 in the first half and 38-29 in the second.
 
The Gamecocks will travel to Huntington, W.VA., to take on Marshall Friday night to open the regular season. Tip-off is scheduled for 6 p.m. CT.