JACKSONVILLE – The Jacksonville State men's basketball team earned a thrilling come-from-behind win over Morehead State Thursday at Pete Mathews Coliseum, 65-64, securing its third 20-win season in a row.
 
The Gamecocks (20-8, 12-3 OVC) have now won 20-or-more games over the last three seasons, setting a new Division I record for the program. The last time a JSU team accomplished the feat was during the 1989-90, 1990-91 and 1991-92 seasons under then-head coach Bill Jones.
 
Jacksonville State also tied its Division I record for conference wins in a single season with 12.
 
Both senior forwards Christian Cunningham and Jason Burnell recorded double-doubles against the Eagles (10-18, 6-9 OVC). Burnell paced the Gamecocks with 19 points with 12 rebounds, while Cunningham tallied a game-best 13 rebounds with 13 points.
 
"Christian was terrific tonight," head coach Ray Harper said. "We couldn't take him out tonight. He was everywhere…he was playing great defense, blocking shots and was alert. He did everything to help us win the basketball game.
 
"And Burnell had a good second half. In the first half, he would catch it in the post and was too deliberate. He couldn't make a move, but he got more aggressive and was a little quicker in the second half."
 
Jacksonville State trailed nearly the entire second half and did not see a lead until 41 seconds left to play in the game.
 
Down by six, five consecutive points from Burnell pulled the Gamecocks within one point of the MSU lead with two minutes to go. Ty Hudson then stepped to the line two baskets later to sink two free throws, giving Jacksonville State a 62-61 lead. A third Hudson free throw and two more from Burnell extended the Gamecocks' lead to four with six seconds remaining on the clock.
 
Morehead State's AJ Hicks hit a near-half-court 3-pointer to cut the game to one, but time expired while the ball was in flight to end the contest before another possession could be had.
 
"We grinded it out tonight, but we have to be a lot better going forward," Harper said. "Give Morehead State credit. They should have won the game, and I thought they were the better team tonight, but we found a way to win it."
 
Burnell secured his team-leading 13th double-double of the year in the second half, tallying 13 points and 10 boards in the final 20 minutes. Cunningham added seven points and seven rebounds in the period.
 
The Gamecocks got off to a slow start, trailing 7-2 after the first four minutes of play. Marlon Hunter then went and scored nine of JSU's next 11 points, including a 3-pointer that gave Jacksonville State a one-point lead.
 
The momentum from Hunter's streak propelled the Gamecocks to a 9-0 run that yielded a four-point lead; the largest of the period for JSU.
 
The lead was short-lived, however, as the Eagles outscored Jacksonville State 12-4 to finish off the half. Morehead State took a 34-30 lead to the locker room, giving JSU just its fourth deficit at the half against OVC opponents.
 
Jacksonville State's win after trailing at the break was just its third win in that situation, improving to 3-7 when down at the break.
 
The Gamecocks return to action Saturday, Feb. 23 to host Eastern Kentucky at 4 p.m. The contest with the Colonels is the final home game of the year for Jacksonville State and will serve as Senior Night. Christian Cunningham, Jason Burnell, Jamall Gregory, Marlon Hunter, Maurice Dunlap and Detrick Mostella will be honored pregame Saturday.
 
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 Pete Mathews Coliseum. 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).