JACKSONVILLE – After trailing by two at the half, the Jacksonville State men's basketball team responded by holding the University of Louisiana at Monroe to 21 second-half points in route to a 75-56 win Saturday afternoon at Pete Mathews Coliseum.
 
Junior Christian Cunningham posted a double-double on 12 points and 12 rebounds, and senior Malcolm Drumwright recorded his sixth double-digit scoring contest of the season with a team-best 18 points in the 19-point victory.
 
The Gamecocks (7-2) and Warhawks (3-5) went toe-to-toe in the first half. At the end of the period, both had 13 field goals and four successful free throws, but ULM's five 3-pointers compared to Jacksonville State's three gave the visitors a 35-33 halftime advantage.
 
Head coach Ray Harper called for some adjustments at the half, and the effect was felt immediately. After scoring just four points in the first, junior Jamall Gregory scored seven of the Gamecocks' next 13 points to blow the contest open at the start of the second period.
 
Just before the under-12 media timeout, the JSU defense had forced seven ULM turnovers, kept the Warhawks from sinking a field goal in over three minutes and held them to 2-for-10 shooting from the floor.
 
In total, ULM turned the ball over 13 times, and nine of those came in the second half. The JSU defense also blocked 10 shots – the second most recorded in a game this season behind the Gamecocks' 11 against Alabama State on Nov. 30.
 
Following the half opening 13-point run, Jacksonville State's lead hit a game-high 19 at the 4:30 mark. ULM and JSU traded baskets for the final 4:51, but Jacksonville native Des Curry got the last word with a jumper in the closing seconds to push the Gamecocks' lead back to 19 when the final horn sounded.
 
Including Drumwright and Cunningham, four JSU scorers put up double-digit points. Gregory was 6-of-9 with a free throw for 14 points, and junior Marlon Hunter finished with 12.
 
The Gamecocks hit the road following Saturday's game for a Dec. 12 matchup with Oregon State in Corvallis, Ore., on the Pac 12 Network at 9 p.m. The team returns to Pete Mathews Coliseum Dec. 16 to open up a five-game home stand against USC Upstate at 3 p.m. The stretch continues with Howard on Dec. 18 and Chattanooga on Dec. 21 just before the Christmas holiday.
 
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).