EVANSVILLE, Ind. – The Jacksonville State men's basketball team topped Tennessee Tech for the third time this season, defeating the Golden Eagles 73-70 in the quarterfinals of the Ohio Valley Conference Championships at Evansville's Ford Center.
 
The Gamecocks' earned their second all-time OVC Tournament quarterfinals win to move into the semifinals for the second year in a row. The win sets up a 7 p.m. matchup with Murray State on Friday on ESPNU. Jacksonville State is 0-1 all-time in postseason play against the Racers, falling 69-60 in 2016.
 
Four Gamecocks finished with double-digit points scored, led by 18-point performances by Marlon Hunter and Jamall Gregory. Senior Norbertas Giga finished with 15 points, picking up all 15 in the second half, while Malcolm Drumwright totaled 10.
 
Jacksonville State shot nearly 12 percent better than Tennessee Tech in the first half, earning 26 points on field goals as opposed to the Golden Eagles' 16, but foul trouble led a tight two-point lead at the half. TTU shot 15 free throws in the first period and hit 12, while JSU made just three trips to the charity stripe for two points.
 
Twelve of Hunter's 18 points came in the first half. The junior was 5-for-8 from the field, knocked down two of JSU's four free throws and picked up a team-best six rebounds before the break. Jacksonville State went to the half with a 30-28 advantage.
 
Following a scoreless first half, Giga came alive in the second and led JSU scorers with 15 points. He only took two shots in the first period but came out of his shell with nine shots in the second. He was 7-for-9 from the field and 1-for-2 from long range to help the Gamecocks to their three-point victory.
 
Tennessee Tech made it interesting in the dwindling seconds of the contest, pulling within two points of the JSU lead, 72-70, on a Kajon Mack basket with two seconds remaining. Drumwright was fouled immediately after the basket and was sent to the line for two shots. The senior missed the first shot but bucketed the second to push the lead to three. Despite a last-second, three-quarters court shot from TTU as time expired, the shot fell short of the rim to secure the victory for the Gamecocks.
 
The Gamecocks are now 6-4 all-time in OVC Tournament action. Including last season's three wins at Municipal Auditorium in Nashville, Tenn., JSU is riding a four-game winning streak in conference postseason play.
 
Tickets for the tournament are now available online at OVCSports.com and by phone at (812) 422-1515. JSU students can purchase tickets on-site at the Ford Center at the Jacksonville State team table for $5. Students must present a student ID to receive the discount and only cash will be accepted. All debit and credit card transactions will be made through the Ford Center at regular ticket price.
 
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