NICEVILLE, Fla. – Freshman Christian Cunningham notched his first career double-double of 16 points and 12 rebounds, but Jacksonville State fell 62-52 to Chattanooga in the championship of their Emerald Coast Classic bracket on Saturday.
 
Cunningham set new career highs in points and rebounds and junior Erik Durham scored 17 points for the Gamecocks (3-6), but the Mocs (5-1) had just enough firepower to escape JSU's upset bid.
 
Cunningham also blocked three shots for JSU, who got 10 points from his freshman counterpart Jared Hamilton. The Gamecocks leading scorer Malcolm Drumwright couldn't get it going offensively, going just 1-for-11 from the floor but dishing five assists.
 
Justin Tuoyo led UTC with 14 points, while Casey Jones added 11.
 
Durham was named to the Emerald Coast Classic All-Tournament Team after averaging 20 points over two games that saw him go 10-for-16 from behind the arc.
 
The Gamecocks and Mocs were locked in a defensive slugfest early on before the 3-pointers starting falling for UTC. Both teams went 8-for-23 from the field in the first 20 minutes, but UTC was 5-for-10 from behind the arc, while JSU was 1-for-8.
 
UTC gradually pulled ahead to start the second half and built a 45-31 lead with just over 13 minutes to play. The Gamecocks clawed back to cut it to seven at 49-42, but a Tuoyo 3-point play stopped the bleeding for a moment.
 
JSU then got a Durham layup and back-to-back dunks from Cunningham cut the deficit to six at 54-48 with 3:30 to play. The Mocs answered again, using an 8-1 run to put the game out of reach.
 
JSU will return home Tuesday for an 8 p.m. tip against Samford at Pete Mathews Coliseum. It will be SGA Night and fans are asked to wear white to White Out the Pete, sponsored by Sarrell Dental. Also, the entire Marching Southerners will be on hand for the game. Admission is free from all JSU students and fans ages 18 and under.