JACKSONVILLE – The Jacksonville State men's basketball team was not able to be the first league opponent to take down first-place Belmont Thursday at Pete Mathews Coliseum, falling 66-53.
 
Bruins' senior Evan Bradds posted 21 points en route to keeping Belmont (18-4, 12-0 OVC) the only undefeated team in the Ohio Valley Conference. He was 9-for-12 from the field and grabbed eight rebounds.
 
Jacksonville State (15-12, 7-5 OVC) had senior Greg Tucker register 14 points and Malcolm Drumwright scored 13, but the Gamecocks were limited to a 23-point second half.
 
The Gamecocks and Bruins looked as if they were at a track meet to begin the first half. The two teams combined to score 22 points within the first four minutes. The up-tempo play continued throughout the first half as the score reached 34-30 in favor of the Bruins at the break.
 
Tucker and Christian Cunningham each scored eight points in the period, while Norbertas Giga, Erik Durham and Drumwright each had four. Freshman Jacara Cross chipped in two points off the bench.
 
Belmont was able to take a lead into the locker room thanks to hot three-point shooting. The visiting team was 7-for-16 (43.8%) from beyond the arc. Starter Taylor Barnette was a half-best 3-for-5 from three-point range.
 
The Bruins added all the cushion they would need with a six-point run to begin the second half. Bradds was responsible for four of the six points that helped Belmont to a 10-point lead. The Gamecocks answered with a nine-point run, pulling within four points of a tie, but it was not enough to overcome the deficit.
 
The Bruins pushed their lead to a game-high 14 points in the final period, and Bradds scored 15 of his 21 points during the closing half.
 
The Gamecocks return to Pete Mathews Coliseum Saturday for a 4:30 p.m. matchup against Tennessee State. The men's contest follows a 2 p.m. women's matchup against Tennessee State.
 
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).