JACKSONVILLE – Head coach Ray Harper led the men's basketball team to a historic win inside Pete Mathews Coliseum with a 64-50 victory over long-time rival North Alabama on Tuesday.
 
The win was important for three reasons: it was the Gamecocks first game inside The Pete since the devastating March 19 tornados, the program's 450th all-time win at The Pete and Harper's 50th JSU coaching win.
 
In its 45th season hosting Gamecock basketball, Jacksonville State now owns a 450-159 record on its home court – a .739 winning percentage. Saturday's game was the first true home game for JSU during the 2018-19 season, scheduling its first 10 games on the road and at neutral sites.
 
Harper became Jacksonville State's fastest Division I head coach to claim 50 wins at the helm of the program. He ranks second all-time at JSU for fastest coach to 50 wins behind hall-of-famer Bill Jones. Harper accomplished the feat in 82 games, while Jones did it in 80.
 
The Gamecocks' swept the season series over the Lions with the 14-point win. Senior Jason Burnell tallied a team-high 19 points, followed by 15 from Marlon Hunter and 11 from Ty Hudson. With a game-high nine rebounds, Burnell came up just one board from scoring his third double-double in four games.
 
Following four lead changes within the first five minutes of the game, Jacksonville State took an 8-6 lead at the 15:21 mark and never saw the Lions climb back ahead.
 
JSU carried out a balanced attack in the first half with six scoring a combined 31 points. Burnell was the half's leading scorer with seven, but only four points separated him from Christian Cunningham who scored a half-low three points.
 
Jacara Cross added four points in the first with three coming on the junior forward's first 3-point attempt and make.
 
The Gamecocks outrebounded the Lions by three, 19-17, in the first, but it was on the offensive boards that JSU held the advantage. Of Jacksonville State's 19 boards, nine were offensive, leading to 14 second-chance points for the home team. Burnell led the period's rebounding effort, as well, pulling down three offensive and two defensive.  
 
North Alabama's Aleska Matic hit a 3-pointer to begin the second half, whittling Jacksonville State's lead down to four, but a 14-0 JSU run helped to put the game out of reach early. The Gamecock defense held the Lions scoreless for nearly five minutes to go ahead 45-27. Harper's squad maintained the lead for the remaining 15 minutes, allowing no less than a 10-point buffer between them and UNA.
 
The Lions' offensive leader was the ASUN's leading freshman scorer, Jamari Stafford, who tallied eight points and played 36 minutes. The Hoover, Ala., native also led on the boards with nine rebounds.
 
The Gamecocks return to action Saturday, Dec. 22 at West Virginia for an 11 a.m. matchup. Jacksonville State next home game is Saturday, Dec. 29 at 4 p.m. against Reinhardt.
 
Season tickets and single-game 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).