CHARLESTON, Ill. – The Jacksonville State men's basketball team improved to 2-0 in Ohio Valley Conference play Saturday afternoon with a thrilling 57-56 win over Eastern Illinois at Lantz Arena.
 
Junior Norbertas Giga earned his fourth double-double of the year with 15 points and 11 rebounds, and sophomore Christian Cunningham snagged a career-high 19 rebounds. Cunningham became the first Gamecocks to reel in 15+ rebounds in a game since Jeremy Watson got 18 at Alabama State in 2014.
 
Trailing since the first half, Jacksonville State (9-7, 2-0) used a mid-second half run to regain a narrow lead. The Gamecocks led by two points following a Malcolm Drumwright free throw with less than eight seconds remaining. A shooting foul took EIU's Cornell Johnston to the line with less than a second to go, but the Panthers' guard missed the backend shot and Cunningham nabbed the rebound.
 
An uneventful first half came to a close with the Panthers (8-6, 0-1) on top 32-25. The period was delayed by 22 fouls; 11 for each team. The Gamecocks struck first with a good free throw at the 18:27 mark from Erik Durham and led for the majority of the half. JSU stretched its lead to as many as five points, and its longest run was four in a row.
 
Momentum turned with less than five minutes remaining in the first with a couple of big three-pointers from the Panthers. Joe Kuligoski drained one to tie it up for the first time, 20-20, and Cornell Johnston put Eastern Illinois ahead with a second trey. The Panters ended the half on a three pointer from Demetrius McReynolds that sent the home team to the break with a seven-point lead.
 
The Gamecocks return to Pete Mathews Coliseum for the first time in over a month next week to begin a three-game homestand. JSU hosts Murray State at 7:30 p.m. on Jan. 5., and Austin Peay at 7 p.m. on Jan. 7. The home series wraps up Jan. 10 with a 7 p.m. contest against non-conference foe Fort Valley State.
 
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