JACKSONVILLE – The Jacksonville State men's and women's basketball teams open Ohio Valley Conference play Thursday, Dec. 28 at Pete Mathews Coliseum against Eastern Kentucky. The women tipoff at 5:30 p.m. with the men to follow at 7:30 p.m.
 
Thursday is JSU Employee Night at The Pete. All JSU employees and their families will be admitted free to both games with a valid JSU ID card. All fans 18-years-old and under and all JSU students with a valid JSU ID are admitted free.

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Men's Basketball - Game 14
Jacksonville State (9-4, 0-0 OVC) vs. Eastern Kentucky (6-7, 0-0 OVC)
December 28, 2017 | 7:30 p.m.
Jacksonville, Ala. | Pete Mathews Coliseum

SERIES HISTORY
Last Meeting: Feb. 23, 2017 (L, 68-65) @ EKU
All-Time Series Record: EKU leads series 20-8

FOLLOW LIVE
Listen: Gamecocks Radio Network - 91.9 WLJS & 97.9 WVOK
Watch: OVC Digital Network
Live Stats: Click Here
 
The Gamecocks (9-4) look to improve to 8-7 in all-time OVC openers and snap a 5-game skid against the Colonels (6-7). Eastern Kentucky has won five consecutive games over Jacksonville State, dating back to JSU's last win over EKU on Jan. 22, 2015 at Pete Mathews Coliseum.
 
Senior Malcolm Drumwright is averaging 14.8 points per game, leading the OVC's top field-goal and 3-point-shooting program. The defense is headed up by junior Christian Cunningham, who ranks 34th in the nation with 2.25 blocked shots per game and 35th-best five double-doubles.
 
Eastern Kentucky comes into the matchup with the sixth-best record among OVC teams. The Colonels have won two of their last five games, picking up wins over Norfolk State and Charleston Southern. Their last three losses came against Oregon State, Northern Kentucky and Marshall.
 
EKU forward Jackson Davis was recently named the OVC Newcomer of the Week, averaging 16.0 points, 4.0 rebounds and 2.5 steals-per-game last week. The transfer from Butler started the week with 15 points, two rebounds, two blocks and a steal in 18 minutes of action in a convincing home win over Norfolk State.

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Women's Basketball - Game 12
Jacksonville State (6-5, 0-0 OVC) vs. Eastern Kentucky (3-6, 0-0 OVC)
December 28, 2017 | 5:30 p.m.
Jacksonville, Ala. | Pete Mathews Coliseum

SERIES HISTORY
Last Meeting: Feb. 22, 2017 (W, 71-61) @ JSU
All-Time Series Record: EKU leads series 19-11

FOLLOW LIVE
Listen: Gamecocks Radio Network - 91.9 WLJS & 97.9 WVOK
Watch: OVC Digital Network
Live Stats: Click Here
 
The women will meet Eastern Kentucky for the 31st all-time meeting between the two schools when the Gamecocks (6-5) and Colonels (3-6) tip at 2:30 p.m. EKU leads the series, 19-11, but the Gamecocks have been hot lately winning six of the previous seven meetings, including a season sweep last year. A win on Thursday would secure JSU's first conference-opening victory since the 2014-15 campaign.
 
Junior Rayven Pearson leads the Gamecocks averaging a double-double with 10 points and 10.5 boards per game. She's coming off a career-best 18-rebound performance at Georgia State on Dec. 19, where she recorded her third-straight double-double adding 11 points in the setback to the Panthers. Outside threat, Gretchen Morrison, averages just under 10 points per game. Her and Pearson lead an otherwise balanced Gamecock scoring attack, which sees nine players averaging between three and seven points per outing. 
 
JSU's staple has been its defense, a system that has led the conference in scoring defense each of the past three years and looks on pace to do the same midway through this season. JSU opponents are averaging just 55.4 points per game, which includes holding Clemson to 53 last week. 
 
The Colonels are off to a slow start at just 3-6, but the back-to-back OVC Tournament runner-up will be looking to start fresh in league play. Thursday's contest will mark the second game in 19 days for EKU. JSU already has played three games during that time, however this will be just the second home game for Jax State over a span of 38 days which saw JSU play six of its final seven non-conference games away from Pete Mathews Coliseum.
 

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Tickets are now available for purchase online at JSUGamecocksTickets.com, by phone at (256) 782-8499 and on campus at the JSU Ticket Office at Kennamer Hall. Children 18-years-old and under and JSU students 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).