JACKSONVILLE – Southeast Missouri jumped out to an early lead and held off the Jacksonville State men's basketball team for a 69-52 win in Ohio Valley Conference play on Wednesday at Pete Mathews Coliseum.
 
The Gamecocks (8-11, 1-4 OVC) struggled from the floor against the Redhawks (8-10, 2-3 OVC), who woke up from the floor to grab the win. JSU shot 29 percent from the floor, while SEMO made 44 percent of its shots on the night.
 
Seniors Darion Rackley and D.J. Felder were the lone Gamecocks in double figures, despite a combined 6-for-23 night from JSU's two leading scorers on the season. Rackley scored 15 points that were bolstered by a 7-for-9 night at the line, while Felder scored 12 to go along with a team-high eight rebounds.
 
Junior JaQuail Townser scored eight points and dished a game-high seven assists for the Gamecocks, while senior Avery Moore added seven points. Rackley added six boards in the loss.
 
The Redhawks had five players with at least nine points, led by 13 apiece from Jarekious Bradley and Jamaal Calvin. Nino Johnson scored nine and led all players with 12 boards. SEMO won the battle on the glass, 40-34.
 
SEMO scored the game's first eight points and built an early nine-point lead, while JSU started a cold 1-for-9 from the floor. The Gamecocks battled back, however, cutting the Redhawks' lead to a few as three before falling behind 29-22 at the half.
 
The Redhawks started hot in the second half, too, scoring the first five points to build a lead that would never fall within single digits the rest of the way.
 
The Gamecocks go on the road for one game this weekend, when they take on UT Martin in Martin, Tenn., on Saturday at 6 p.m. The game will be the second in a doubleheader with the women's team, who plays the Skyhawks at 4 p.m. Both games will be broadcast live on the Gamecock Sports Network and on the OVC Digital Network.