JACKSONVILLE — It started in the closing minutes of the first half.
 
With the game tied, Eastern Kentucky went on a scoring run before taking a second-point lead into halftime. The Colonels continued the scoring trend by outscoring Jacksonville State by 15 during the second half en route to their 76-54 win over the Gamecocks.
 
The loss drops Jacksonville State to 8-22 on the season and 4-11 in Ohio Valley Conference play while Eastern Kentucky keeps its hopes for a berth in the conference tournament by pushing its conference record to 6-9, 15-15 on the season overall.
 
Eastern Kentucky shot an impressive 58.6 percent from the field during the second half while holding Jacksonville State to a 22.6 shooting percentage and 27.3 percent from behind the 3-point arc during the same stretch.
 
One of the lone bright spots for Jacksonville State was its 63 percent (17 of 27) from the free throw line, which was led by Greg Tucker's perfect 9 for 9 night from the charity stripe on his way to a game-high 15 point performance for the Gamecocks.
 
Jacksonville State got to within five of Eastern Kentucky in the opening minutes of the second half then as close as seven midway through the half before the Colonels pushed their lead to double-figures and didn't look back. 
 
JaQuail Townser scored nine points, dished out four assists and brought down three rebounds for the Gamecocks. Jeremy Watson and DelFinko Bogan both added eight points while Watson also had eight rebounds. Christian Cunningham finished the night with seven points, six rebounds and five blocked shots.
 
For Eastern Kentucky, Javontae Hawkins was the team's leading scorer with 14 points while Nick Mayo and Paul Jackson added 13 and 10 points respectively. Jarelle Reischel and Jaylen Babb-Harrison both scored seven points.
 
Jacksonville State will close outs its 2015-16 season with a 4:30 tip time against Morehead State. The game will be part of a doubleheader with the Gamecock women's team. JSU will honor its seniors before the game.