JACKSONVILLE — The Jacksonville State men's basketball team got its first win of the season on Sunday with an 81-68 victory over Fort Valley State at Pete Mathews Coliseum.
 
The Gamecocks (1-1) have nine newcomers, which is tied for the seventh most at the Division I level, but those players helped lead the way in James Green's seventh home opening win in eight seasons at JSU.
 
Jared Hamilton, a freshman out of Charlotte, N.C., scored 14 points and brought down a career-high 13 rebounds in 31 minutes as a starter. It's the first double-double recorded by a Gamecock player since D.J. Felder had 10 points and 13 rebounds back on January 3, 2015, which is only a 17-game span. Hamilton also blocked two shots in the win.
 
Erik Durham, a transfer from Lamar State College in Port Arthur, Texas, also had a career performance during the game. The Springfield, Mo., native scored 15 points while bringing down six rebounds, both career highs, in a game-high 35 minutes of action. Christian Cunningham, a freshman from Albuquerque, N.M., added a six points and four rebounds, both of which were career-highs.
 
Returning guards JaQuail Townser and Malcolm Drumwright picked up right where they left off Friday afternoon in the Gamecocks' season-opener at Central Michigan. Townser scored 15 points to go along with five assists and five steals in 28 minutes. Drumwright followed his career-best 26-point performance against the Chippewas with a 14-point game against the Wildcats. He made a career-high nine free throws on 10 attempts, also a career-best for sophomore guard, to go along with his five assists.
 
Jeremy Watson added nine points, thanks to 5-of-8 from the free throw line, and brought down three rebounds in 20 minutes of action off the bench.
 
After taking a 38-37 lead over FVSU into the locker rooms, the Gamecocks found a way to outscore the Wolves 43-31 during the second half, which is due in large part to their 20-of-25 shooting from the free throw line during the game's final 20 minutes.
 
For Fort Valley State, Tyler Edwards and Jaylon McMillan both recorded team-highs with 11 points. Edwards had four rebounds and four assists to McMillan's two and two respectively. Dareial Franklin, a Gadsden, Ala., native, added nine points and six rebounds. Ralph Wilson had six points and three rebounds while J.R. Bryant, Kris Bell and Eugene Thomas all scored five points apiece.
 
Jacksonville State will return to the floor to put its 11-game home winning streak against non-conference opponents on the line as the Gamecocks play host to Oakwood Monday night with tipoff scheduled for 7 p.m. Admission is free for JSU students and all fans ages 18 and under.