Jacksonville State University
Fort Valley State University
Men's Basketball Welcomes Fort Valley State Tuesday
1/9/2017 4:08:00 PM | Men's Basketball
Jacksonville State Game Notes
JACKSONVILLE -- The Gamecocks wrap up their three-game homestand Tuesday at 7 p.m. against Fort Valley State in their final non-conference matchup of the season. Jacksonville State looks to close out its non-OVC slate with a winning record for the first time since the 2012-13 campaign.
JSU (10-8, 3-1 OVC) is 3-0 all-time against FVSU, and all three wins have come at Pete Mathews Coliseum. Last year's meeting was an 81-68 victory on Nov. 15. Four Gamecocks, including Malcolm Drumwright and Erik Durham, registered double-figure points against the Wildcats.
Fort Valley State (6-8, 4-1 SIAC) enters the game riding a three-game winning streak. The Wildcats are off to a 4-1 start in the SIAC with wins over Lane College, Central State University and Spring Hill. FVSU is tops in its conference in rebounding offense (606) and offensive rebounds (249).
Tickets are available now online at JSUGamecockSports.com and by phone at (256) 782-8499. JSU students with a valid student ID and fans 18 & under are admitted free.
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 19
Jacksonville State (10-8, 3-1 OVC) vs. Fort Valley State (6-8, 4-1 SIAC)
January 10, 2017 | 7 p.m. CT
Jacksonville, Ala. | Mathews Coliseum (3,500)
SERIES HISTORY
Last Meeting: November 15, 2015 (W, 81-68)
All-Time Series Record: JSU leads 3-0
FOLLOW LIVE
Listen: Gamecock Sports Network (WLJS 91.9 FM, WVOK 97.9 FM)
Watch: NA
Live Stats: Click Here
NOTEWORTHY
• The Gamecocks command a 3-0 series lead over Fort Valley State entering Tuesday's non-conference matchup. JSU claimed an 81-68 victory over the Wildcats at Pete Mathews Coliseum Nov. 15 in the home opener last season. The 2016-17 contest marks the fourth meeting in a row between the two programs. All four games have been played at Pete Mathews Coliseum.
• Junior Norbertas Giga and sophomore Christian Cunningham are each tied for fifth in the OVC and 49th in the NCAA for most total rebounds. Both big guys are averaging 7.9 rebounds per game and have a total of 143 boards. Cunningham has 45 offensive rebounds while Giga ranks third in the conference with 110 defensive rebounds.
• The Gamecocks own the fourth-best RPI in the OVC at 152. Only Tennessee State, Belmont and UT Martin own better RPI rankings than Jacksonville State.
• Eight of JSU's 10 wins have come away from Pete Mathews Coliseum, and six of those wins are true road games. Jacksonville State has not won six games on the road since going 6-8 during the 2012-13 season. JSU has combined to win more games away from Jacksonville this season than the past three years combined (3, 15-16; 1, 14-15; 3, 13-14).
• Senior Erik Durham's name ranks among the top three-point shooters in the NCAA. His 52.1 three-point field goal percentage ranks fifth in the nation, while his 50 three-point field goals made rank 32nd in the country. He ranks first in the OVC for three-point percentage and third for three-pointers made.
• Jacksonville State is off to a 3-1 start in OVC play for the first time since the 2005-06 season. The Gamecocks went on to finish 16-13 under then-head coach Mike LaPlante. The last time JSU began a conference slate with a record better than 3-1 was 99-00 under Mark Turgeon. His team was 6-0 before suffering their first loss in TAAC.
