MONTGOMERY, Ala. – The Jacksonville State men's basketball team claimed its fourth win in a row, and third in a row away from Pete Mathews Coliseum, Tuesday night with a 72-69 win over Alabama State at the Dunn-Oliver Acadome.
 
Junior Norbertas Giga bucketed a career-high 18 points, and senior Erik Durham posted 17 points to register his sixth consecutive game in double digits. Tyrik Edwards scored a career-high 10 points with nine coming in the second half.
 
Alabama State opened the game with a press against the Gamecocks' offense, forcing a couple of early turnovers. Despite the defensive strategy, the Hornets managed just two points off turnovers. Meanwhile, five of JSU's first eight points were scored off two ASU turnovers.
 
Jacksonville State took a one-point lead, 31-30, into the locker room at the half after fighting back from eight points down. The Hornets dominated the boards up until the three-minute mark of the period with seven second-chance points. Alabama State had reeled in five more rebounds than the Gamecocks, leading the battle 26-21 with an 8-2 advantage on the offensive boards.
 
The Gamecocks out-rebounded ASU 7-4 in the final three minutes of the half and took its lead with 2:34 left on the clock. Sophomore Andre Statam led first-half scorers with seven points, while senior Erik Durham followed up with six points on two 3-pointers.
 
The beginning of the second half saw Jacksonville State go on a 7-2 run to jump out to a 40-32 lead. It ran its lead to a game-high 10 points at the 15:20 mark to seemingly cement its lead. However, a surge from the Hornets brought the Gamecocks' lead within one with four minutes left to play.
 
The two teams traded blows until the final 13 seconds. ASU's Terrance LeFlore hit a layup to make it a three-point game, and Edwards missed two free throws to give Alabama State the ball with five seconds remaining. Shooter Torloft Thomas was forced to send up a deep 3-pointer from the left side of the key, but the attempt fell short to secure the win for the Gamecocks.
 
Jacksonville State returns to action Sunday in Birmingham, Ala. The Gamecocks are set to take on Samford at 3 p.m. "The Voice" Mike Parris will have the call from the Pete Hanna Center beginning at 2:30 p.m.
 
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