JACKSONVILLE – The Jacksonville State men's basketball team battled back from a nine-point halftime deficit to upend Morehead State 76-69 at Pete Mathews Coliseum Saturday night.
 
Senior Norbertas Giga helped the Gamecocks (11-4, 2-0 OVC) to their second consecutive Ohio Valley Conference victory with his second double-double in as many games. The seven-foot forward deposited 17 points and pulled down a career-high 14 rebounds, tying junior Christian Cunningham for most double-doubles this season (5).
 
"Morehead State is probably one of the tougher teams in the conference," head coach Ray Harper said. "They are very aggressive and physical on the glass. I thought they out-toughed us in the first half, but we played like there was one minute to go the rest of the game. We executed better and moved the ball really well in the second half."
 
Despite the seven-point margin of victory in the end, Jacksonville State trailed 40-31 at the half. Aside from nine points from Giga, who was 4-for-8 in the first period, Morehead State (4-9, 0-2 OVC) held the Gamecocks to 36.4% shooting in the opening half. Meanwhile, the Eagles were 15-for-31 (48.4%) and knocked down six 3-pointers.
 
Jacksonville State rallied back in the second half, outscoring MSU a whopping 45-29. Five Gamecocks posted more than five points in the closing period, led by Burnell's nine. JSU shot 51.9% in the second half, while the Gamecock defense limited the Eagles to just 30.0% in the second.
 
"We defended a lot better in the second half," Harper said. "I think we have to do a better job of preparing. I don't think we were very well prepared for their offense and seemed confused.
 
Along with Giga's 17 points, Burnell tallied 16 points and junior Maurice Dunlap scored 10 points off the bench. On the defensive end, Cunningham swatted three shots to bring his season total to 32 blocks.
 
For the first time in the OVC history of the JSU men's and women's basketball programs, both teams are 2-0 to begin conference play. The last time the two programs were each 2-0 in conference action was 2002-03 as part of the Atlantic Sun Conference.
 
Jacksonville State is now 3-1 in games they trail at the half, and improve to 9-1 when leading with five minutes to go.
 
The Gamecocks hit the road for the first time in OVC play next weekend, visiting Tennessee State on Thursday, Jan. 4 at 7:30 p.m. and Belmont on Saturday, Jan. 6 at 5 p.m. JSU returns to Pete Mathews Coliseum on Jan. 11 to host the Murray State Racers at 7:30 p.m.
 
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).