Jacksonville State University
Eastern Illinois University
Gamecocks Continue OVC Opening Weekend at EIU
12/30/2016 3:45:00 PM | Men's Basketball
Jacksonville State Game Notes | Eastern Illinois Game Notes
CHARLESTON, Ill. -- The Jacksonville State men's basketball team travels to Charleston, Ill., from Martin, Tenn., to take on Eastern Illinois on Saturday at 3:15 p.m.
The Gamecocks enter the contest with an 8-7 overall record and 1-0 OVC mark following a 90-72 victory over UT Martin Thursday night. The win to open conference play was the seventh time JSU has won a league opener since joining the Ohio Valley in 2003-04. Five Gamecocks scored in double-figures at Elam Center, helping JSU to a season-best 90 points scored.
Sophomore Christian Cunningham registered his second double-double of the season with 12 points and a career-best 13 rebounds, while junior Norbertas Giga led the scoring effort with 17 points. Senior Erik Durham continued to shoot the three with a hot hand, going 4-for-4 from beyond the arc.
Eastern Illinois has yet to play an OVC contest and has not played since Dec. 21. The Panthers are coming off an 88-85 loss at Indiana State.
For more information on the JSU men's basketball team, follow the Gamecocks on Twitter (@JSU_MBB). For more on all Gamecocks sports teams, follow the official social media accounts of JSU Athletics on Twitter (@JSUGamecocks), Facebook (Facebook.com/JSUGamecocks), Instagram (@JSUGamecocks) and Snapchat (@JSUGamecocks).
GAME 16
Jacksonville State (8-7) at Eastern Illinois (8-5)
December 31, 2016 | 3:15 p.m. CT
Charleston, Ill. | Lantz Arena (5,300)
SERIES HISTORY
Last Meeting: January 2, 2016 (L, 75-64)
All-Time Series Record: EIU leads 10-8
FOLLOW LIVE
Listen: Gamecock Sports Network (WLJS 91.9 FM, WVOK 97.9 FM)
Watch: SoCon Digital Network
Live Stats: Click Here
NOTEWORTHY
• Sophomore Christian Cunningham registered his second double-double of the season in Thursday night's win over UT Martin. He posted 12 points and a career-high 13 rebounds.
• Five Gamecocks scored in double-figures Thursday at UT Martin, accomplishing the feat for the second time this season. Norbertas Giga (17), Erik Durham (16), Malcolm Drumwright (15) Christian Cunninghm (12) and Greg Tucker (12) became the second group of five to score 10-or-more points in a single game since Dec. 5 2015.
• Since joining the Ohio Valley Conference in 2003-04, Jacksonville State is 7-7 in league openers. JSU is now 2-0 in openers against UT Martin. JSU also scored a 70-65 victory to open 2013-14 OVC play.
• Senior Erik Durham's name ranks among the top three-point shooters in the NCAA. His 53.8 three-point field goal percentage ranks fourth in the nation, while his 42 three-point field goals made rank 18th in the country. He is averaging 3.0 treys per game (48th, NCAA).
• The Gamecocks' seventh victory of the season, a one-point win over Upstate on the road, brought them to .500 before the holiday break. The last time the Gamecocks had seven wins before Christmas was 2014-15 (seven wins by 12/16/14). JSU's record stood at 4-11 this time last year.
• Freshman Jacara Cross was named the Adidas® OVC Freshman of the Week on Dec. 19 after scoring 35 points in three games the week prior. He earned his first start at Maryland and has been nearly unstoppable, scoring double-figures in three of his four starts: 10 against the Terps, a career-high 13 at Howard and 12 at Upstate. His 5-for-7 (.71) performance from the floor at Maryland is also a career-best with a minimum of five shots attempted.
• Seven of Jacksonville State's eight wins have come away from Pete Mathews Coliseum.
