LAS VEGAS, Nev. – The Jacksonville State men's basketball team made it four-straight wins, including two over the last two days, at the Thomas and Mack Center in Las Vegas, Nev., with a 76-63 victory over Northern Arizona on Saturday afternoon.
 
Sophomore Christian Cunningham neared a double-double performance, finishing with nine boards and a career-high 19 points. The Gamecocks (4-3) were also one point shy of having five different players reach double figures in points for the first time in 26 games as Malcolm Drumwright ended the day with 14, followed by Erik Durham (13) and Jacara Cross (10). Freshman Tyrik Edwards finished with nine points.
 
After a couple of scoreless minutes to begin the day, NAU's Ako Kaluna opened the scoring with a 3-pointer in a sign of what was to come from the Lumberjacks who shot 32 3-pointers on the afternoon - twice as many as JSU.
 
Following a missed attempt from outside with 13 minutes to play, Edwards grabbed the rebound and found fellow freshman Cross streaking down the right side for a fast break bucket to even the game at 10-10. Cross set a career high with 10 points Saturday, all of which came in the opening 20 minutes. The lead changed hands five times early before JSU moved ahead, 13-12, on a layup from Cunningham.
 
The Gamecocks held a five-point advantage at 25-20, following a triple from Durham with five minutes and change left before halftime. NAU cut its deficit to one multiple times before heading to the locker room trailing 31-30.
 
The Gamecocks scored the first seven points of the second half courtesy a pair of inside baskets from Cunningham, followed by a three from Drumwright which gave Jax State its largest lead of the game at 38-30. The lead reached double figures when Cunningham turned an offensive rebound into a second-chance bucket with 15 minutes remaining. The native of Albuquerque, N.M., led the second-half charge with 15 points after the break, and finishing one rebound shy of a double-double. JSU finished with 15 second-chance points after winning the rebound battle, 48-33, Norbertas Giga matched Cunningham with a team-best nine boards.
 
After the Gamecocks took a game-high 17-point lead, the Lumberjacks responded with an 8-0 run forcing Ray Harper to call timeout with just under 10 minutes to play, leading 57-48. NAU came as close as six, but Tucker's triple at the 3:37 mark pushed the Gamecocks back to a double-digit lead at 69-58. From there, JSU controlled the clock on its way to securing its third-straight win of the season.
 
Durham was recognized for his exceptional weekend following the game, earning a spot on the all-tournament team. The senior totaled 33 points on the weekend and knocked down 10 3-pointers (10-for-15) over the two-day trip. Including the preliminary games at TCU and Western Kentucky, Durham put up a four-game total 62 points in the Global Sports Classic.
 
JSU flies back home for a short stay before departing early next week for a much shorter road trip to Montgomery to face Alabama State on Tuesday, Nov. 29.  
 
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